"Mums," he said seriously, "are weird."

He continued to eat in silence, thinking deeply. This whole conversation was odd. It used to be, with him and Wens -- Pep and Adam, too, but especially Wens -- that they could unfailingly find something to talk about, but now . . . it seemed strained. This was irritating.

Brian looked up. "Sorry? Oh." He shrugged. "'S'alright. Not much to do this time of year, really, unless there's a sudden freeze, which there hasn't been. Planted all the bulbs an' so on already." He glanced up, frowning in concern. "Hey. You okay, Wens?"