“The only thing that beats One is two, and three, and four.”

“Yes," I said. "My name is seven-five-nine-nine-three-nine-ex-dash-one. Junior.”

“A boy and a girl, fated to rule all. Two will rise, and One will fall.”

“There's a saying I remember from my grandmother: One today is worth two tomorrows.”

“That’s the stupidest thing I’ve ever heard. I need to help you because fair is fair? Try, ‘I need you to help me so I won’t rip out your spine and beat you with it.’ I might respond to that. Maybe.”

“Angel is right,"said Dr. G-H quickly. "This is my clumsy way of demonstrating.""Demonstrating what?" I was barely able to keep a snarl out of my voice. "How to get yourself beat up in one easy step?”

“Imagine life is a game in which you are juggling five balls. The balls are called work, family, health, friends, and integrity. And you're keeping all of them in the air. But one day you finally come to understand that work is a rubber ball. If you drop it, it will bounce back. The other four balls...are made of glass. If you drop one of these, it will be irrevocably scuffed, nicked, perhaps even shattered.”