Joshua A. Beal Quotes in Wide Awake (1998)

Joshua A. Beal: My question is about my Aunt Denise. She's not baptized, so that means she's going to Hell right?

Sister Terry: Uh, no, actually she's not, Joshua.

Joshua A. Beal: And my dad's best friend, he's not baptized either, and that means *he's* going to hell.

[kids beginning to clammer nervously]

Sister Terry: Joshua, I think you misunderstood.

Student: Oh man! Seth Greenburg rides my bus, he's not baptized...

Sister Terry: Okay, wait a sec...

Student #2: Hey, my cousin's going to hell?

Sister Terry: No, I don't think...

Student: The family living next door - their whole house is going to hell!

Sister Terry: No, that's not what it says in the book. If you'll notice, on page four... Ok alright, quiet! No one is going to Hell!

Joshua A. Beal: Before this year, bullies were just bullies for no reason, weirdos were just weird, and daredevils weren't afraid of anything. Before this year, people I loved lived forever. I spent this year looking for something and wound up seeing everything around me. It's like I was asleep before and finally woke up. Know what? I'm wide-awake now.

[last lines]

Joshua A. Beal: My name is Joshua A. Beal. I live in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. And I believe two things. Not all angels have wings. And sixth grade's got to be easier than this.

Frank Benton: Hey Josh, is today tomorrow?

Joshua A. Beal: No Frank, tomorrow's tomorrow. Today's today, and tomorrow's tomorrow.

Joshua A. Beal: Those are the kids in my class. Kids in uniforms don't smile very much.

Joshua A. Beal: [looking across into girl's play yard] I don't know why they put this fence up. Why would anyone what to go over there, anyway?

Mr. Beal: Joshua, the pope is not God.

Joshua A. Beal: I know that, but he's his best friend.

Mr. Beal: We're not going to Rome.

Sister Terry: Every day at sunset you'd bow your head to the east and pray, is that right?

Joshua A. Beal: Uh, I stopped that.

Sister Terry: Okay, well what did you think about when you prayed?

Joshua A. Beal: Nothing mostly. Sometimes, I'd wonder... what made that smell in the carpet?