“Undeniably.” He ran ahead to open the building door. “Accompany this odd man to the deli? I just need to hear you say a few more words.” “Mm, like what?” “Like aluminum.” “You mean aluminium?” “Ah, there it is!” He cupped his ears in pleasure. “That extra syllable. A-luh-mi-nee-uhm. It undoes me.” She tried to look skeptical, but she was amused, he could tell. “You’re easily undone,” she said. He surprised her by stopping to consider this with genuine earnestness. “No,” he said eventually. “I’m not.”
