Well. Okay. True and valid points but. "I was still the catalyst?" he says. "I mean, it probably wouldn't be broken without me."

But okay, okay, he'll accept that explanation. And the story too, which even gets a smile out of him. ""How the heck did your previous one get into the wheel compartment of a plane?" Because that sounds like a story right there.

Meanwhile, he's still working on the cane. He's doing pretty well? After a bit more work, he taps it against the ground carefully. Look, 99% straight again. Just ignore the imprints of his fingers on it.