Katzenjammer Quotes

“Look, I said to him one day in October, while I sat in an armchair and he relaxed on the divan, posing for me. I turned my sketchbook toward him.
You're going to color me in, right? he asked.
Of course I'm going to color you in.
Whatever happened to that picture of Jake you did?
Burned it, I said.
Really?
No, I tore it out and threw it away. But I burned it in my heart.
Good enough.
I moved over to sit next to him.
How are you going to do a picture of me from that close? he asked.
I'm getting the details, I said.
What details? My giant nose?
Your nose is perfect. I'm talking about stuff like...the hairs in your eyebrows.
Do people look that closely at portraits?
No. I just really like your eyebrows.
In that case, have some.
He leaned forward and pressed his forehead to my cheek. I laughed and pushed him away.”
― Francesca Zappia, Katzenjammer

“One day in November, I moved Skittles into color-specific piles on his chest while a murderer chopped away at teenagers having sex onscreen.
Doesn't even make sense, Jeffrey said. He's not exactly quiet. They would have heard him coming.
Too busy listening to each other coming, I said.
Jeffrey coughed so hard he dislodged the Skittles.
Could you be more vulgar? he said.
Actually, yes, I could. It's just the truth. Who's going to notice an ax murderer sneaking up on you when you're in the throes of passionate sex in a dirty, disease-ridden barn? If you're horny enough to get it on in there, you're not going to notice anything.”
― Francesca Zappia, Katzenjammer

“Are you begging? Do you expect me to show you mercy? When have we ever been merciful to each other? Any of us?”
― Francesca Zappia, Katzenjammer

“There is a tree where a girl once stood.”
― Francesca Zappia, Katzenjammer

“But it's dark here," I say, scared for her. She's too young. This place is too awful.

"Not so dark," she says, raising her arms. They become branches too, twisting and sprouting. She is seventeen, young and beautiful even for all her faults. Ribbons fall, gleaming. She smiles down at the chrysanthemums that light her from below. "I have these now.”
― Francesca Zappia, Katzenjammer

“I will never know why so much potential had to be lost to such senseless misery.”
― Francesca Zappia, Katzenjammer