"I think if my mother had one, she'd frame it too." A slight smile behind his tea, which he picks back up only when she orders. He's been drinking a ridiculous amount, lately, in a fit of what he refuses to acknowledge as homesickness. (He's only drinking English-style tea today because he's already tried all of the other options on the menu here, it has nothing to do with any absentee friends, so there.)

"Who understands why anything happens, here?" An implication of a shrug. "At least it's not a bill."