New girl Quote by J.M. McDermott
““A new girl came to work in the room, and the cat was still in it. The cat hid from the new girl in Jess’ old room behind a crack in the wall and yowled for Jess to come and throw this strange girl out of the cat’s bed. This new girl clapped her hands over her ears, and then pulled powder out from her bag of make-up. She doused a piece of old food in the powder and threw it into the wall for the cat to eat. Later that night, Rachel had to pull the dead cat from a crack in the wall with a long broom handle. Rachel threw the dead cat over the wall, where the rain would come to wash the body into the sewers. With Jess crying somewhere about her lost cat—selling hot corn among the thugs and night bruisers, paying for anything stolen—Rachel figured that the powder had done exactly what it had been made to do. The powder had killed a working girl’s baby.””
About This Quote
Source Short story: “The Powder” by J.M. McDermott, 2012
A seemingly harmless act of kindness hides a deadly consequence, showing how unintended outcomes can arise from seemingly benign actions.
In simple terms: Kindness can mask danger; actions have hidden costs.
Key Takeaway
Consider the hidden impact of your deeds.
Themes
morality
consequences
trust
violence
Mood
tense
grim
reflective
Type
literary
cautionary
When to use this quote
- workplace
- urban survival
- street life
- nighttime
- conflict
Key Concepts
ethical dilemma
cause and effect
unintended harm
Questions to Reflect On
- What hidden motives might drive seemingly kind acts?
- How do we assess risk in unfamiliar environments?
A Different Perspective
The narrative may exaggerate for shock value, limiting its realism.
