"I think you're going to need a bigger piggy bank," he returns easily.

It was disarming how familiar the man's style of banter was. He could almost hear the persistent smile in it. Reminds him of an old friend.

"Look, I'm- sorry, is there anywhere more... safe, we could have this conversation? I don't feel like-" And he gestures with his cane in the general direction of the road. "-testing my luck with more traffic."