Magnolia (“Quiz Kid” Donnie Smith)
I’m sick. I’m sicker now. I confuse melancholy with depression sometimes…. I’m sick. I’m sick and I’m in love. … That’s right. That’s the first time you’ve been right. I confuse the two and I don’t care. Hey! Hey! I love you! I love you and I’m sick. I’ll talk to you. I’m getting corrective oral surgery tomorrow. For my teeth. I love you Brad. Brad the bartender. You want to love me back? I’ll be good to you. I’ll be Goddamn good for you. I won’t be mad if you don’t notice I said what. Won’t punish you if you get the answer wrong. I can teach and tell you. … You shut up. Mind your own business. Brad I know you don’t love me now… You want to know the common element for the entire group?… I’ll tell you the answer: I’ll tell you, ’cause I had that one. I had that question… Carbon. Carbon. In pencil lead, it’s in the form of graphite and in coal, it’s mixed up with other impurities and in the diamond it’s in hard form. “Well… all we were asking was the common element, Donnie… but thank you for all that unnecessary knowledge… haha, kids! Heads so full of useless knowledge. Thank you. Thank you.” And the book says: “We may be through with the past… but the past is not through with us!” And… no, it is not dangerous to confuse children with angels!