Brick Ishmael Heck quotes from The Middle

Brick

You know you're my hero, right Mom?

Brick

[while reading his mother's romance novel] Mom, which part of me is my hungering manhood?

Brick

I smell cooking. Is Grandma here?

Sue

Mom, can I talk to you?

Frankie

Yeah, sure.

Sue

I saw this boy today at school...

Frankie

[narration] Now, I know I should have been thrilled by this. My daughter was telling me about her first big crush. But I was so tired, all I could do was pretend to listen. And then I saw something amazing, something I was beginning to think I'd never see in my lifetime. Brick was making a sandwich. Just this morning he was sick, and now, an actual sandwich! It was like that guy who got hit by lightning and suddenly knew how to play the piano.

Sue

So, what do you think? Is it a good plan?

Frankie

Uh, sure, honey. That's a great plan.

Sue

Yay! [walks away]

Frankie

Brick, did you make your own lunch?

Brick

Uh-huh! Did it all by myself!

Frankie

Hey! [narration] And suddenly, everything seemed hopeful. There was one less thing I would have to do tomorrow and the rest of my life. Brick would make sandwiches, Axl would learn to drive, and soon there would be time for trips to the carpet remnant store whenever I wanted...or so I thought.

Frankie

[taking Brick to work with her when he is sick] Okay, there's ginger ale in the cup holder. If you need anything, honk twice.

Brick

I wish I could stay home and watch TV and have you make me soup.

Frankie

Oh, sorry, honey. Wrong family.

Mike

[about the huge bandage on Brick's arm] It's tiny. There's not even a scratch. Here, Brick. Unwrap it and show him.

Sir, we can't allow you to talk directly to your child.

Mike

What? Is this for real?

Frankie

[narration] Oh, it was for real all right. It started with a bandage and just snowballed from there. It didn't help that there was a new hall monitor at school.

[to Brick] Hey, buddy. What happened to your arm?

Brick

I'm not supposed to tell.

What do you mean?

Brick

My mom says I'm not supposed to tell.

Well, if something happened at home, you have to tell a grown-up.

Brick

Okay. My mom hit me with a beer bottle. She was mad, my dad was mad, and I always get in the way.

Frankie

[narration] You can see how this sounded. Everyone could see how it sounded, except Brick.

Mike

[while en route to Chicago] What snacks did you pack?

Frankie

I've got pretzels, candy corn, cheese corn, kettle corn, girl scout cookies and frosting for dipping. It's all in the blue bag

YOU FORGOT THE BLUE BAG!

Frankie

Hey, Brick, you're slowing down. Come on, you've got 30 kids in the class. You've got to keep moving.

Brick

Have you guys seen these things? It's candy with words on it. Candy and words, who thought of this?

Frankie

Brick, you've gotta sign your name to the card, stick it in the envelope with a couple of hearts, lick it. C'mon, Brick, lick, stick, done.

Brick

When did they invent these? 'Be mine.' So simple, yet so profound. 'Luv ya.' Genius!

Brick

Not the one with the lion on it.

Mike

Whoa. What's the big deal about this one? 'I like you and I'm not lion!' Someone spent four years in college to come up with that.

Brick

That one's for Autumn Wagner.

Frankie

Oooh, so who's Autumn Wagner?

Brick

She has pink lips and can do three cartwheels … in a row!

Mike

Wow, no wonder she gets the lion Valentine.