“Everything happens for a reason, Sadie, even bad things.”

“Why didn’t you sleep with the headrest?”I shrugged. “It was uncomfortable.” I looked at Sadie for support. “You didn’t use it, did you?”Sadie rolled her eyes. “Well, of course I did. It was obviously there for a reason.”

“When a demigod like me comes around, bad things happen. Really bad.-LeoMaybe it's the other way around, Jason suggested. Maybe people with special gifts show up when bad things are happening because that's when they're needed most.”

“Sadie got up and kissed Amos on the forehead. “Leave it to us, Uncle. I’ve got a plan.”“That,” I said, “sounds like very bad news.”

“After my bad experience as a kite, I simply refused to go about as a glowing Sadie-headed chicken. That’s fine for Carter, but I have standards.”

“And this is the east shore?" Sadie asked. "You said something about that in London--my grandparents living on the east shore." Amos smiled. "Yes. Very good, Sadie. In ancient times, the east bank of the Nile was always the side of the living, the side where the sun rises. The dead were buried west of the river. It was considered bad luck, even dangerous, to live there. The tradition is still strong among... our people."Our people?" I asked, but Sadie muscled in with another question.So you can't live in Manhattan?" she asked.Amos's brow furrowed as he looked across at the Empire State Building. "Manhattan has other problems. Other gods. It's best we stay separate.”

“Maybe people with special gifts show up when bad things are happening because that's when they're needed most.”