"Every window of Alcatraz has a view of San Francisco." (p. 6)

"Profoundly depressed - suicidal. Increasing patternless of life, promiscous might kill self or get pregnant...she doesn't want to return...Daughter Ran away from him 4 mos ago. Living in boarding house in Camb— Desparate—" (p. 11)

"Who would kiss a person like that, a person with no skin?

She was eighteen before this thought occurred to her. She'd spent a year with us. Other people stormed and screamed and cringed and cried, Polly watched and smiled. She sat by people who were frightened, and her presence calmed them. Her smile wasn't mean, it was understanding. Life was hellish, she knew that. But, her smile hinted, she'd burned all that out of her. Her smile was a little bit superior: We wouldn't have the courage to burn it out of ourselves—but she understood that too...