Quotes

Quote 6 of 11

For three years, all through junior high, my social death was grossly
overdetermined.  I had a large vocabulary, a giddily squeaking voice,
horn-rimmed glasses, poor arm strength, too-obvious approval from my
teachers, irresistible urges to shout unfunny puns, a near-eidetic
acquaintance with J.R.R. Tolkien, a big chemistry lab in my basement,
a penchant for intimately insulting any unfamiliar girl unwise enough
to speak to me, and so on.  But the real cause of death, as I saw it,
was my mother's refusal to let me wear jeans to school.

p. 96

Tags: hornrimmedglasses chemistrylab socialdeath armstrength jrrtolkien puns penchant causeofdeath acquaintance vocabulary jeans