--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He apologized when I was twelve. He was…" description: "\"“He apologized when I was twelve. He was crying. I don't like to remember that. I like to remember the time he spelled and defined 'metamorphosis' when..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/e-r-frank-40375_metamorphosis_he-apologized-when-i-was-twelve-he-was-c_676302.jpg" --- # He apologized when I was twelve. He was crying. I don't… ![“He apologized when I was twelve. He was crying. I don't like to remember that. I like to remember the time he spelled and defined 'metamorphosis' when my mama was clean. He used her as an example, and he was chewing on the Popsicle stick left over from our lunch that day. When he smiled, his teeth…” quote by E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/e-r-frank-40375_metamorphosis_he-apologized-when-i-was-twelve-he-was-c_676302.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/e-r-frank-40375_metamorphosis_he-apologized-when-i-was-twelve-he-was-c_676302.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/98b/e-r-frank-40375_metamorphosis_he-apologized-when-i-was-twelve-he-was-c_676302.jpg) > ““He apologized when I was twelve. He was crying. I don't like to remember that. I like to remember the time he spelled and defined 'metamorphosis' when my mama was clean. He used her as an example, and he was chewing on the Popsicle stick left over from our lunch that day. When he smiled, his teeth were mad purple.”” [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. A painful memory is juxtaposed with a vivid, sensory recollection that reveals how trauma and love intertwine. **In simple terms:** Memories mix pain and love. Key Takeaway Acknowledge both hurt and affection in recollection. Themes memory trauma family sensory detail Mood nostalgic bittersweet Type reflective emotional When to use this quote - grieving a loss - recalling childhood - processing grief - sharing stories Key Concepts psychology narrative therapy Questions to Reflect On - How do sensory details shape your emotional memory? - What role does humor play in coping with trauma? A Different Perspective The fragmentary recollection may obscure broader context. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Apologized Crying](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/apologized-crying-5359547/) [Defined Metamorphosis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/defined-metamorphosis-5359546/) [Metamorphosis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metamorphosis/) [Metamorphosis Mama](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metamorphosis-mama-5359545/) [Smiled Teeth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/smiled-teeth-1130144/) [Time](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/time/) ## Related quotes > [“A mystery." He smiled, his teeth a white gleam in the shadowed face. "I like mysteries." "Don't you have enough to do without going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/m-j-scott/a-mystery-he-smiled-his-teeth-a-white-gleam-in-the-shadowed-face-i/) [M.J. Scott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/m-j-scott/) > [“Damn it," I said. "I don't suppose you have any ideas on how to kill Littleton." He smiled at me, his teeth very white…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/damn-it-i-said-i-don-t-suppose-you-have-any-ideas-on-how-to-kill-2/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [That's a big nose," he croaked and instantly realized he shouldn't have said something so impolite. I must be light headed, e thought. But…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-flanagan/that-s-a-big-nose-he-croaked-and-instantly-realized-he-shouldn-t-have/) [John Flanagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-flanagan/) > [“Why the long face?” “Is there anyone who isn’t infatuated with you?” I smiled at him, with teeth. “If not, it’s because you haven’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chloe-neill/why-the-long-face-is-there-anyone-who-isn-t-infatuated-with-you-i/) [Chloe Neill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chloe-neill/) > [“Hey, Grandlibby?” I asked. “What’s a ‘turn-on’?” She paled visibly, looking mildly ill. “Well,” she said…struggling for words, “it’s…um…the things that make you happy,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenny-lawson/hey-grandlibby-i-asked-what-s-a-turn-on-she-paled-visibly-looking/) [Jenny Lawson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenny-lawson/) > [He proposed she smiled no teeth he died :P](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/komal/he-proposed-she-smiled-no-teeth-he-died-p/) [Komal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/komal/) > [“Mrs. Pelham's face was old but she moved like someone younger, and when she smiled I could see that her teeth were still strong.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-wolk/mrs-pelham-s-face-was-old-but-she-moved-like-someone-younger-and-when/) [Lauren Wolk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-wolk/) > [“Witnessing the moonrise each month, a person cannot resist noting a modest sense of optimism tugging at his or her enclosed capsule of bodily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/witnessing-the-moonrise-each-month-a-person-cannot-resist-noting-a/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [For lovers, touch is metamorphosis. All the parts of their bodies seem to change, and they seem to become something different and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/for-lovers-touch-is-metamorphosis-all-the-parts-of-their-bodies-seem/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [Autumn is the very soul of metamorphosis, a time when the world is poised at the door of winter - which is the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/autumn-is-the-very-soul-of-metamorphosis-a-time-when-the-world-is/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [It is almost banal to say so yet it needs to be stressed continually: all is creation, all is change, all is flux, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/it-is-almost-banal-to-say-so-yet-it-needs-to-be-stressed-continually/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Most animals are like the unfortunate Gregor Samsa after metamorphosis. They are Kafka-creatures, organisms with rich thoughts and emotions but no system for translating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-hauser/most-animals-are-like-the-unfortunate-gregor-samsa-after/) [Marc Hauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-hauser/) > [You've got to be like a butterfly and have a metamorphosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-markkula/you-ve-got-to-be-like-a-butterfly-and-have-a-metamorphosis/) [Mike Markkula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-markkula/) > [“Svako živi iza rešetaka koje nosi sa sobom. Zato se sada tako mnogo piše o životinjama. To je izraz čežnje za slobodnim, prirodnim životom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-janouch/svako-ivi-iza-re-etaka-koje-nosi-sa-sobom-zato-se-sada-tako-mnogo-pi/) [Gustav Janouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-janouch/) > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) ## More by E.R. Frank > [“Secret Saturdays ought to be required reading at middle schools everywhere. Maldonado gives us both voice and heart. His young characters navigate a challenging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-frank/secret-saturdays-ought-to-be-required-reading-at-middle-schools/) [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) > [“I'm so disgusting,' I try to argue, but his hands and his voice and his marble mother's eyes won't let it be true anymore.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-frank/i-m-so-disgusting-i-try-to-argue-but-his-hands-and-his-voice-and-his/) [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) > [“Grace,' my mother tries, just before my frozen hot chocolate comes. I don't answer her. Later, while she's waiting for her credit card back…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-frank/grace-my-mother-tries-just-before-my-frozen-hot-chocolate-comes-i-don/) [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) > [“I shrug, and then we sit awhile without saying anything. Then he goes, 'Where'd you learn to fight like that, anyway?' I start to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-frank/i-shrug-and-then-we-sit-awhile-without-saying-anything-then-he-goes/) [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) > [“Nah,' I tell her after a while. 'He is more like a brother, you know?' The good kind. The kind with the purple teeth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-frank/nah-i-tell-her-after-a-while-he-is-more-like-a-brother-you-know-the/) [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) > [“Time is tricky. You have whole months, even years, when nothing changes a speck, when you don’t go anywhere or do anything or think…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-frank/time-is-tricky-you-have-whole-months-even-years-when-nothing-changes/) [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) > [“If I could be small again, Monique told me at the playground's fence, slurring her words and watching Caitlin sob, I'd want to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-frank/if-i-could-be-small-again-monique-told-me-at-the-playground-s-fence/) [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) > [“China puts her hand on my palm. Her fingernails are baby blue with miniature clouds airbrushed at the tips. She saved three weeks of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-frank/china-puts-her-hand-on-my-palm-her-fingernails-are-baby-blue-with/) [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) > [“Sonia, every dog does not bite, nor does each bee sting. For each schoolmate who insults you, there must be fifty who do not.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-frank/sonia-every-dog-does-not-bite-nor-does-each-bee-sting-for-each/) [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) > [“I start laughing. You have to laugh. Life is just funny sometimes. As long as you remember.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-r-frank/i-start-laughing-you-have-to-laugh-life-is-just-funny-sometimes-as/) [E.R. Frank](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) [Explore all 11 E.R. Frank quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-r-frank/) ## More Metamorphosis quotes > [We are somehow the children of the planet, we are somehow its finest hour; we bind time, we bind the past, we anticipate the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terence-mckenna/we-are-somehow-the-children-of-the-planet-we-are-somehow-its-finest/) [Terence McKenna](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terence-mckenna/) > [“Svako živi iza rešetaka koje nosi sa sobom. Zato se sada tako mnogo piše o životinjama. To je izraz čežnje za slobodnim, prirodnim životom.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gustav-janouch/svako-ivi-iza-re-etaka-koje-nosi-sa-sobom-zato-se-sada-tako-mnogo-pi/) [Gustav Janouch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gustav-janouch/) > [You've got to be like a butterfly and have a metamorphosis.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-markkula/you-ve-got-to-be-like-a-butterfly-and-have-a-metamorphosis/) [Mike Markkula](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-markkula/) > [Most animals are like the unfortunate Gregor Samsa after metamorphosis. They are Kafka-creatures, organisms with rich thoughts and emotions but no system for translating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marc-hauser/most-animals-are-like-the-unfortunate-gregor-samsa-after/) [Marc Hauser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marc-hauser/) > [It is almost banal to say so yet it needs to be stressed continually: all is creation, all is change, all is flux, all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/it-is-almost-banal-to-say-so-yet-it-needs-to-be-stressed-continually/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [Autumn is the very soul of metamorphosis, a time when the world is poised at the door of winter - which is the door…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/autumn-is-the-very-soul-of-metamorphosis-a-time-when-the-world-is/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [For lovers, touch is metamorphosis. All the parts of their bodies seem to change, and they seem to become something different and better.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-cheever/for-lovers-touch-is-metamorphosis-all-the-parts-of-their-bodies-seem/) [John Cheever](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-cheever/) > [“Witnessing the moonrise each month, a person cannot resist noting a modest sense of optimism tugging at his or her enclosed capsule of bodily…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kilroy-j-oldster/witnessing-the-moonrise-each-month-a-person-cannot-resist-noting-a/) [Kilroy J. Oldster](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kilroy-j-oldster/) > [The speed with which modern society has adapted to accommodate the world's vast spectrum of gender and sexual identities may be the most important…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jenna-wortham/the-speed-with-which-modern-society-has-adapted-to-accommodate-the/) [Jenna Wortham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jenna-wortham/) > [When anger is not trampling roughshod through our nervous system, it is sitting sullenly in some unspecified internal organ. "She's got a lot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carol-tavris/when-anger-is-not-trampling-roughshod-through-our-nervous-system-it/) [Carol Tavris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carol-tavris/) > [What the philosopher is seeking is not truth, but rather the metamorphosis of the world into man.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/what-the-philosopher-is-seeking-is-not-truth-but-rather-the/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“But sometimes, when you have to change, the metamorphosis is so profound, that the old you can’t look the new you in the eyes.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/k-larsen/but-sometimes-when-you-have-to-change-the-metamorphosis-is-so/) [K. Larsen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/k-larsen/) > [The younger and healthier a woman is and the more her new and glossy body seems destined for eternal freshness, the less useful is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/simone-de-beauvoir/the-younger-and-healthier-a-woman-is-and-the-more-her-new-and-glossy/) [Simone de Beauvoir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/simone-de-beauvoir/) > [Politics in the United States consists of the struggle between those whose change has been arrested by success or failure, on one side, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harold-rosenberg/politics-in-the-united-states-consists-of-the-struggle-between-those/) [Harold Rosenberg](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harold-rosenberg/) > [“There goes a stunning butterfly! Metamorphosis! Fair dinkum! Fair dinkum!”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lana-m-rochel/there-goes-a-stunning-butterfly-metamorphosis-fair-dinkum-fair-dinkum/) [Lana M. Rochel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lana-m-rochel/) [Browse all 187 Metamorphosis quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/metamorphosis/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“He apologized when I was twelve. He was crying. I don't like to remember that. I like to remember the time he spelled and defined 'metamorphosis' when my mama was clean. He used her as an example, and he was chewing on the Popsicle stick left over from our lunch that day. When he smiled, his teeth were mad purple.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "E.R. 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