Things are never normal," but I make a mental note to remind her, if they ever are."
-- Genesis Anderson (chapter 1)

Importance: Following an apology for ruining Genesis's afternoon with a popular group of girls at her house, this observation comes in response to the promise that her mother makes to redeem herself. It is the first hint at the fact that Genesis's parents do not quite understand the severity of the impact the family's financial instability on the teenager. Genesis's irony reinforces the fact that she has had to endure this for quite a long time and does not lend much credit to her mother's hopefulness. In a more positive way, this thought does show that Genesis's mother cares for her, even if her ability to act is limited.

But there's a traffic jam of questions inside my head. Like really, what kind of man should Mama have married, and why isn't Dad it...
-- Genesis Anderson (chapter 2)