He thought about it a moment, then gave a weak shrug.

"I dunno. I get run over an' knocked down a lot, an' most times it doesn't seem like anyone notices." Or cares. "They expect me t'pick myself back up an' walk it off, an' I do, but sometimes only because I'm supposed to."

He's the good son. The starting quarterback. The friendly sheriff. The hometown hero.

If this were another world, he'd be wearing a cape and leaping over tall buildings.

"It's easier t'do it that way, than to disappoint. Or let folks in to see what's real."