Jim may not know it, but he gives pretty good hugs. At least, Alex thinks so. He doesn't hesitateor get awkward like Alex's dad does, he just hugs back, and the eleven year old can't help wishing he had a big brother like this. It would be cool to have somebody around who he can talk to besides his mom. He blinks back tears - he's grown up now, it's cool - and tries to pull it together as he listens to Jim talk.

"I have migraines all the time, I get tired really easily, and I'm not very strong. I can't be normal. I try, but I just can't. And I dunno if somebody with my problems can really do anything cool as a grown up." What is he supposed to do, when he's plagued by headaches, gets photosensitive so regularly, is exhausted midway through every day? Nobody he knows who's an adult with an actual job is like this. They're not weak like he is. "The only thing I'm stubborn about is languages. I taught myself a bunch, with some help from my family and books. I can talk even when I'm tired. But - they don't really have jobs just for that, do they?"