I’m not saying it was all for the best. (That’s one of the great stupid phrases of all time, imho.) - Jane Yolen

Dad, everyone knows Beelson is a nutcase! You should hear the things they say about him in school."
My father looked at me sadly. "I thought you didn't believe in basing your life on what everyone else says, Mr. Nonconformist."
"OK, skip what everyone else says. I think he's nuts.

“No, you cannot…must not…shall not…may not…” to everything that seemed even the slightest bit interesting or exciting or dangerous.
So Waverly did what every child of ten does. He did it all anyway.

I took a deep breath. God…I prayed.
And then I realize that I had nothing more to say to him.
Nothing at all.