Американские боги

           ""Notme,"saidTown."Ineverproperlymettheguy.Andthiswholethingmakesmefeeluncomfortable."

           Czernobogsaid,"Theseactionswillhaveconsequences.Youknowthat?Thiscanonlybethestartofitall."

           Thefatkidstartedtogiggle,ahigh-pitched,girlishnoise.Hesaid,"Okay.OkayI’vegotit."Andthen,allononenote,herecited:

           "Turningandturninginthewideninggyre

           Thefalconcannothearthefalconer;

           Thingsfallapart;thecentercannothold…"

           andthenhebrokeoff,hisbrowcreasing.Hesaid,"Shit.Iusedtoknowthewholething,"andherubbedhistemplesandmadeafaceandwasquiet.

           AndthentheywerealllookingatShadow.Thewindwasscreamingnow.Hedidn’tknowwhattosay.Hesaid,"Thiswholethingispitiful.Halfofyoukilledhimorhadahandinhisdeath.Nowyou’regivingushisbody.Great.HewasanirascibleoldfuckbutIdrankhismeadandI’mstillworkingforhim.That’sall."

           Mediasaid,"Inaworldwherepeopledieeveryday,Ithinktheimportantthingtorememberisthatforeachmomentofsorrowwegetwhenpeopleleavethisworldthere’sacorrespondingmomentofjoywhenanewbabycomesintothisworld.Thatfirstwailis—well,it’smagic,isn’tit?Perhapsit’sahardthingtosay,butjoyandsorrowarelikemilkandcookies.That’showwelltheygotogether.