First time Quote by Philippa Pearce
““Good-bye, Mrs Bartholemew," said tom, shaking hands with stiff politeness; "and thank you very much for having me." "I shall look forward to our meeting again," said Mrs Bartholemew, equally primly. Tom went slowly down the attic stairs. Then, at the bottom, he hesitated: he turned impulsively and ran up again - two at a time - to where Hatty Bartholemew still stood... Afterwards, Aunt Gwen tried to describe to her husband that second parting between them. "He ran up to her, and they hugged each other as if they had known each other for years and years, instead of only having met for the first time this morning. There was something else, too, Alan, although I know you'll say it sounds even more absurd...Of course, Mrs Bartholemew's such a shrunken little old woman, she's hardly bigger than Tom; anyway: but, you know, he put his arms right round her and he hugged her good-bye as if she were a little girl.””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Tom's Adventure (fictional excerpt)
A brief, tender farewell shows how brief encounters can feel deeply familiar, highlighting human longing for connection.
In simple terms: Goodbyes can feel like long friendships.
Key Takeaway
Cherish fleeting moments.
Themes
friendship
farewell
human connection
memory
Mood
warm
nostalgic
Type
literary
emotional
When to use this quote
- social gatherings
- family reunions
- first meetings
Key Concepts
ephemeral intimacy
nostalgia
Questions to Reflect On
- What makes a brief meeting feel lasting?
- Do we project past experiences onto new people?
A Different Perspective
The scene may romanticize unrealistic intimacy.
![“The children's writer not only makes a satisfactory connection between [the writer's] present maturity and his past childhood, he also does the same for his child-characters in reverse - makes the connection between their present childhood and their future maturity. That their maturity is never…” quote by Philippa Pearce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/afe/philippa-pearce-41771_aging_the-children-s-writer-not-only-makes-a-s_1292815.jpg)
