Menachem nodded and laughed weakly but stopped quickly as it made his ribs ache. "I imagine a lot of people show you their worse side. But I'm glad to hear that. I've always been a little worried he'd be taken advantage of even though he could have a mean side too. But then who doesn't?"

He ate very slowly and drank, taking plenty of time for any small amount to settle in his stomach. He didn't get far before he felt he'd had enough.