the last book I ever read (Anne Tyler's A Spool of Blue Thread, excerpt seven)

from A Spool of Blue Thread: A Novel by Anne Tyler:

“Well, I tell Redcliffe, I say, ‘Whatever you do in life, do your best. I don’t care if it’s hauling trash, you do it the best it’s ever been done,’ I say. ‘Take pride in it.’ Getting fired? It’s a black mark on your record forever. It’ll hang around to haunt you.”