Hilary McKay Quotes

#1. He says he needs mothering."
" ... Even if he didn't need mothering, which after all is only another way of saying he needs a slave.

Hilary McKay

#2. Saffy could tell by the feel of the darkness that Caddy was awake. She said, "Caddy, how far back can you remember?"
"Oh," said Caddy, "ages. I can remember when I could only lie flat. On my back. I can remember how pleased I was when I learned to roll over.

Hilary McKay

#3. How can I give you nothing? Do you seriously expect me to buy nothing, wrap up nothing, stick a gift tag on nothing, send a card saying I really hope you like your nothing and lie awake worrying that the nothing I got you was the right color nothing you always anted? Have a heart!

Hilary McKay

#4. She'll soon forget."
"Caddy," said Saffron impatiently, "she is headmistress of the private school! She's probably never forgotten anything in her whole life!

Hilary McKay

#5. Darling Daddy, This is Rose. The shed needs new wires now it has blown up. Caddy is bringing home rock-bottom boyfriends to see if they will do for Mummy. Instead of you. Love, Rose.

Hilary McKay

#6. I used to think that fifteen would be nearly grown up," said her sister Naomi, "until you started being it

Hilary McKay

#7. I always say a little prayer when I put cakes in the oven," remarked Eve, as she stopped to kiss Rose good-bye.
"What do you say?"
"I say, 'Please, God, don't let me forget I've put that cake in the oven.

Hilary McKay

#8. Fishing in a bucket. The total hopelessness of the activity was very soothing. It was the perfect sport. Without the emotional stresses of success and failure, she was entirely free to enjoy the pleasures of the moment ... It was a good hobby, and cheap, and if more people did it more often

Hilary McKay

#9. Michael allowed himself to look at Caddy for the first time since she had climbed into the car. It was a moment that he always put off for as long as possible because his concentration was never quite the same afterwards.

Hilary McKay

#10. He likes driving very fast on the wrong side of the road," said Sarah. "Which I can completely understand.

Hilary McKay

#11. Humans cannot fly, but they can get the flying feeling. All they need to do is go out at night into a wild storm where the thunder roars like applause and the lightning throws itself in daggers of light at your bare feet and you suddenly find you are not afraid.

Hilary McKay

#12. You can't be disgusting to people just because they annoy you!" she exclaimed very crossly. "Thousands of people annoy me! Millions of people annoy millions of people all the time! ... You have to put up with them.

Hilary McKay

#13. She had to go," said Rose. "It was because of her angel," said Indigo. "And because of Granddad," added Caddy. "And because of her nose stud." "And because her name isn't on the color chart." "She's lonely," said Rose. "That's why.

Hilary McKay

#14. Very helpful, I must say. Look at them in the eye and shout, and they understand every word ... (Mr. Warbeck in Sienna, talking about local Italians.)

Hilary McKay

#15. I can only drive slowly."
"That's all right."
"And I can only do left turns."
Rose ran downstairs, grabbed a road atlas, and ran triumphantly back up again. "Wales is left! Look! It's left all the way!

Hilary McKay

#16. Don't call me darling. I'm a driving instructor!

Hilary McKay

#17. The house had a name. The Banana House. It was carved onto a piece of sandstone above the front door. It made no sense to anyone.

Hilary McKay

#18. Make a wish," said Indigo.
Rose made a wish and then asked, "Why?"
"That's what I always do. Wish on the moving ones."
"Does it matter how fast they move?"
"I don't think so."
"Can you wish on airplanes, too?"
"Oh, yes.

Hilary McKay

#19. He's an artist in London. We don't see him much."
Tom gave him one of his quick, considering glances and asked, "Doesn't he live with you?"
"No," said Indigo, finally saying out loud what he had known now for a long, long time. "Not really. Not anymore.

Hilary McKay