The old fear of madness made Ti-Jeanne go cold … Madwoman in front of her. Hard-eyed men just behind. But at least the men had something behind their eyes, some spark of humanity. Ti-Jeanne chose. She turned and ran back the way she’d come.
-- Narration  (One)

Importance: This quote is taken from an early section of the novel in which the narrative develops a clear sense of tension between Ti-Jeanne's inner life (i.e., who she is and the person she wants to be) and outer life (i.e., the circumstances in which she lives that life). There is also, within the larger context of the narrative as a whole, a sense that in this moment, Ti-Jeanne is poised between past and future - what she knows is her past and what she fears is her future.

Tony could give sweet, sweet talk. Words so nice, they would charm the money from your...
-- Narration  (One)