--What do you want, Jake? What do you always want from me? All I ask for is a cup of tea, and... and..-- she seemed at a loss for words. She had her hands in front of her chest, with the palms looking upwards, and the fingers braided. She tugged at her hands, as if hoping the words would come out of them.

But no words came. Jake watched her fiddlings almost patiently: 10 seconds, 20, 30...

--What? What "and"? You have a tongue-- talk!-- He was almost screeming now.