“So could we please not mob the three-thousand-plus-year-old reaper like tweens at a boy-band concert?”

“I spent two hours trying to question reapers without sounding like I was questioning them. What do you think it says about us as a group, that every reaper I know is either irritable, egotistical, voyeuristic, or some combination of the three?""That you fit in well?”

“He’s like the Rasputin of reapers.”

“So, 'reaper' is really just a nice word for 'covert pervert?' Is that what you're saying?”

“Tod's eyes widened and his irises swirled in tight twists of blue. "Well, I don't see that I have much of a choice, considering that's part of Reaper Law." "There's a Reaper Law?" "Of course. 'A reaper is Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous...'" He shrugged. "It gets boring after that. But this situation is clearly covered under the 'helpful' category."I rolled my eyes. "I think that's the Boy Scout law.""They took it from us. But they left out all the good stuff.”

“A field trip. You interested in doing something dangerous, and possibly illegal?"Does it involve underage girls, broken curfews and soorte4d fruit toppings?"I dropped the empty can into the recycling bin and leaned against the kitchen peninsula, grinning like an idiot. "Two of the three. And I could probably scrounge up some strawberry jam, if you're desperate.""I'm never desperate," Tod said, only his voice hadn't come from my phone. I whirled around to see the reaper standing behind me, still holding his cell. "But for the record, I prefer apricot." "Yuck. Nobody likes apricot jam.”

“Just FYI, in your case, I think it’s okay to fear the reaper.”