Bones was still hiding behind his paper. It was the financial section, so I knew there was no way he was reading it. I whispered loudly to get his attention, “Bones, the can.” He slowly dropped his paper down below his eyes. “Lump, get your paper up!” he panicked. “Talk to me with your paper up!”

I really think he was planning on holding up his paper for another forty minutes. I rolled my eyes and put the Sports section back in front of my face. “You realize this is a dumb idea,” I said, talking to him through my paper. “That guy’s coming back in five minutes and will ask us for tickets. You think he can’t ask people who are reading the paper for their tickets?”

I peeked over my paper, but Bones was still ignoring me. “Tickets, please,” I said, mimicking the conductor. “Oh, you’re reading the paper? Never mind then. Sorry to bother you, sir.”

Bones dropped his paper. “What’s your big idea then?”

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