Historian: I don't think I've quite come across what it is you had in mind for me here.
Me: Well, maybe not. I just thought you might see something.
Historian: Everything seems kind of expensive.
Me: You have no idea how much clothes cost anymore.
Historian (pauses to consider justice of this trenchant observation): Well, I don't think socks used to cost twelve dollars a pair.
Me: You know, I've bought you socks that cost that much.
Historian: Actually, my all-time favorite pair of socks cost fifteen dollars, and that was years ago.
Me: You have an all-time favorite pair of socks? What were they like?
Historian: They were wool, I guess . . . they were dress socks, and they came up this high (gestures at mid-calf). When you're wearing dress socks, you don't want . . .
Me (finishing his sentence (very bad habit)): Gapping? (at this point, trying to imagine:) So they were just . . . black socks?
Historian: I can't quite remember--textured, maybe. (Pauses, remembering:) They were the first pair of socks that showed me what socks could be.
