Quotes by John Tobin

“She paused the movie and turned around to me. “Tobin, what is your idea of hell?” “That seems like a question that could be answered in the car!” “Because my idea of hell is spending eternity in a Waffle House full of cheerleaders.””

“She’s like all the others, Tobin: as soon as I confess my love, she abandons me.””

“Judith Tobin suggests the value of five qualities that can assist you to connect with others: Appreciation allows for differences in people and considers them interesting. Sensitivity understands personal feelings and quickly takes into account the moods of others. Consistency has the quality of being “real,” not phony, and gives only sincere compliments. Security doesn’t try to be “top dog”; it knows that helping others win isn’t a loss for you. Humor laughs at itself; it is not overly sensitive.””

“Tobin scanned the menu board. “Ah, Christ, this is the place with the messed-up sizes, isn’t it? Like, grandé instead of large?” He stretched it out all stupid and fake-French, and Christina and I shared a look. “Why can’t you just call it a large?” he asked. “You could, except grandé is a medium,” Christina said. “Venti is large.” “Venti. Right. For the love of God, can’t I order in plain English?””

“Tobin,” he said out of nowhere. I looked up and he was right next to me, high-stepping through the snow. “Not that I’m necessarily in favor of the idea,” he said, “but I think maybe you like the Duke.””

“And Carla was like, I think I can, I think I can, and the Duke just kept petting the dashboard, saying, “I love you, Carla. You know that, don’t you? I wake up every morning and the first thing I think is that I love Tobin’s mom’s car. I know that’s weird, baby, but I do. I love you. And I know you can do this.””

“Hume, James. Twenty-two cents. Ralph, thirty cents. Joad, Thomas, ninety cents. Winfield, fifteen cents.” The money lay in rolls, silver and nickels and pennies. And each man looked in his own book as he was being paid. “Wainwright, Agnes, thirty- four cents. Tobin, sixty-three cents.” The line moved past slowly. The families went back to their cars, silently. And they drove slowly away””