“Shinsuke still remembers the stink of varnish from the used desk they bought him. Actually, with its green baize surface and shiny silver-colored drawer pulls, the desk had a nice, neat look to it at first glance, but the cloth was worn thin, and the drawers never opened smoothly. This piece of furniture was not so much a desk as a symbol of the entire household, a symbol of the constant struggle to keep up appearances.” PovertyThe Early YearsAkutagawa S Own StoryDaidoji Shinsuke Book:Rashōmon and Seventeen Other Stories Source: Rashōmon and Seventeen Other Stories
“Halt glanced down at his friend's belt quiver. Like his own, it was empty. "Lost your arrows somewhere, did you?" he said, and the two of them laughed.” HaltCrowleyRanger S ApprenticeJohn FlanaganThe Early YearsHackham HeathHalt O Carrick Book:The Battle of Hackham Heath Source: The Battle of Hackham Heath
“Halt nodded his thanks. "Good work," he said, and Gilan grinned at the praise. Must remember to do that more often, Halt thought. He recalled his own younger days, when words of praise were few and far between...” HaltRangers ApprenticeGilanThe Early YearsHackham Heath Author:John Flanagan