| Quotes from Cloudstreet, by Tim Winton I just wish what to believe in You believe in what you like, Lester Lamb. That's one thing I can't show you. It's all war, she said... I don't know. Everythin. Raisin a family, keepin yer head above water. War is our natural state. Ah things come along You take the good with the bad No you don't. You know about boats., You can't steer if you're not faster than the currents. If you're not under your own streamthen yer just debris, stuff floatin. We're not frigtened animal, Lester, just waitin wit some dumb thougtless patience for the tide to turn. I'm not spwnding my life quietly takin the good with the bad. I 'm not standing forthe bad; bad people, bad lucks, bad ways, not even bad breaths. We make good, Lester. We make war on thebad and don't surrender. Oh nothin's really strange. Strangeness is ordinary if you let yourself think about it. There's been queerness all your llife. I've bseen stranger things than Quick's glowin, havn't you? We don't belong anywhere. When I was a girl, I had this strong feeling that I didn't belong anywhere, not in my body, not on the land. It was in my head, what I thought and dreamt, what i believed, Lester, that's where I belonged, that was my country. That was the final line of defence in the war. You broke Fish's hear, Quick. People arn't like furnitures. Another loss. Oh if she thinks about evertything that's been taken from her over the years--Lord, it's like the longest subtraction sun invented. She can't help it, the feeling is on her and she's furious. It's a sickness, selfpity, it'll eat you up, woma, you know it. It'll eat the day and worm into your labour and weaken you. Fish: everyone goes |