Quotes from Lauren Child

I say 'Mom, how come you don't change into an evening gown for dinner?' She says 'I do, it's called a bath robe. [...]

There's a saying at Spectrum: 'If you want to lead the enemy straight to your door then just keep using the same one.' That's why we have a lot of different ways in - we are always sealing one up and opening another. We have to, we can't risk anyone finding out true location.

He was beginning to think Mr Piper the philosophy teacher was right: man was not born good, he was just out for himself, and when he got the chance he would laugh at those less fortunate, those unlucky ones who kept on flunking French.

She settled down in the beanbag, in one hand a cookie and in the other a large green apple. She believed that the healthy attributes of the apple might counteract the bad effects of the cookie. (Ruby Redfort had a lot of theories like this one.)

If God wanted us in the ocean, he wouldn't have made the land.

Ruby, desperately wanting not to get stuck at the table talking to her mother about the mind-numbing subject of iced finger food, decided to make a swift exit. "Mom, just gotta walk Bug." "But I already walked him an hour ago," said Sabina. "Oh yeah, well, I promised him," called Ruby, already halfway down the stairs. "Who promises a dog ?" said Sabina.

I am not sleepy and I will not go to bed." --Lola

He smiled and cut her off, he felt very secure, safe, out of reach; she could threaten him but she could not find him. All she could do was call and beg and bully, but that was only because he allowed her this luxury of contact. If he chose to, he could disappear entirely, and as soon as he had executed his plan that's exactly what he would do. Wait until it has all played out, he told himself, wait for the money and the big finale and then be gone.

Ruby's heart sank. The broken clasp. Not only had she let go of the one thing that might have saved her life, but she had also neatly tipped off the Count as to her whereabouts. That's why he had retraced his steps. That's why he had found her. RULE 7: DON'T FORGET THE LITTLE THINGS - IT'S THE LITTLE THINGS THAT WILL LEAD PEOPLE TO NOTICE THE BIG THINGS , or as Mrs Digby would no doubt say, A stitch in time saves you a whole lot of bother later on .

Pretty young for a waiter, aren't you?" "I'm older than I look," Clancy assured her. "You better be because you look about nine." Clancy decided he did not like this woman.

One of the most common codes used across the planet is binary or digital code.

What do you do when there are no passing planes?

Eisenhauser conundrum

It's true," said Freddie Humbert. "Kids nowadays have got no ability to listen to simple instructions." "Here you go, Dad," said Quent, returning with a tray of drinks. "Two martinis, one with extra olives, one with no olives, one mineral water, ice, and a twist of lime, and a jade juice, no fruit.

Oh, and by the way, you did good, kid.

By the way, thanks for rescuing me out there.' Hitch just smiled. 'It was nothing kid. Everyone needs rescuing once in a while.

If Sergeant Cooper wasn't impressed by Ruby's time-keeping, then her flouting of the camp dress code really got him marching up and down. His least favourite item was a T-shirt printed with the words: could you repeat that? I wasn't actually listening . 'Redfort, how many times have I told you about that T-shirt of yours?' 'I'm sorry Sergeant Cooper, I haven't been counting, but I can take a wild guess if it's important to you.

Ruby froze as she looked into the friendly green eyes of Baby Face Marshall. And the words of Agent Blacker came shooting back to her. If you see Baby Face, don't bother calling for Mommy, run!

But what were you doing?' asked her father. 'Looking for the Fairbank rubies,' said Ruby merrily. 'The Count tried to kill me with jellyfish, but you know what? I found them anyway and then he tried to kill me with an octopus.

Sure I would but I've got school — remember school? It's that big building where all the kids hang out.

I guess you're referring to Chime Melody?' Froghorn wrinkled his nose, evidently surprised that she was aware of the Chime situation. 'Oh, I'm sorry, no insult intended,' he said, not the merest hint of apology in his voice. Apparently, you're a listener?' 'Sure, I listen,' said Ruby. 'It's important to have an open mind, otherwise one walks around like one knows it all when one is actually a total potato head, no insult intended.

She was sharp as a tack and keen as a knife; determined, hardworking, loyal and – luckily – pretty funny with it.

So,' said Ruby, 'tell me gain, what exactly happened out there?' 'Oh, come on Rube!' said her mother laughing. 'We've told you around four times!' But Ruby couldn't get enough of the story - she was kind of proud that her parents had survived such a dicey situation. There was of course another reason for wanting to hear it over and over; it was RULE 14: VERY OFTEN PEOPLE NEGLECT TO TELL THE MOST IMPORTANT DETAIL.

Bide your time, until things begin to make sense