I am what you might call a rambling man, and America is my beat. I keep an eye on certain people, and check back on them every once and again.
-- Farris (Chapter 1)

Importance: This is the way that Farris describes himself when Gwendy first meets him. Gwendy senses that she sees Farris occasionally during her life and gets the feeling that he is watching her.

She wants it at once, and not just because it’s a beautiful thing. She wants it because it’s hers. Like something really valuable, really loved, that was lost so long ago it was almost forgotten but is now found again. Like she owned it in another life where she was a princess, or something.
-- Narrator (Chapter 1)

Importance: From the first time that Gwendy sees the button box, she is drawn to it. It was as if she had owned it in another life and recognized it. Gwendy not only...