“Shush, Isobel,” the priest told her. “When such terrible things leave your tongue, they fly directly to God’s ear.” She had stood then and turned, peering into the darkness of the church for Sully, who had sunk down into his pew. “What difference?” she said. “God isn’t listening.”

“Shush, Isobel,” the priest told her. “When such terrible things leave your tongue, they fly directly to God’s ear.” She had stood then and turned, peering into the darkness of the church for Sully, who had sunk down into his pew. “What difference?” she said. “God isn’t listening.”

— Richard Russo