"... in love the way all men were in love with the made-up women in their minds: those women who never get a chance to come down into the streets and walk around real because once they were real, like minna, they threw you off balance and blew you away. a boy like col could be in love with such a woman, because he never had to contend with her needs. he only had to watch and listen and pay attention and pour the wine. and col could do this by the hour."
stones, timothy findley