I had to admit I was intrigued, though I usually left mystery solving to television personalities -- figuring out how to pay my bills was mystery enough for me.
-- Dorrie (chapter 2 paragraph 2)

Importance: Dorrie's statement tells of one of her reasons for escorting Miss Isabelle up to Cincinnati: intrigue, which is important to the reader because in a normal situation, it's a lot for a person to ask of another, at the drop of a hat, to drive her about 1,000 miles.The statement also speaks of Dorrie's position in life. The reader comes away from that statement knowing that Dorrie's finances are tight, and that she likely lives month-to-month regarding her finances. This identifies her as a working, middle-class citizen.

It all started and ended with a funeral dress.
-- Dorrie (chapter 2 paragraph 7)

Importance: The story starts with Miss Isabelle asking Dorrie to escort her from Arlington, Texas, up to Cincinnati, Ohio, for a funeral. With this statement, the...