That was a kind of rude tone to take based on someone's appearance, almost enough to override all of the nice patting. Salem made a noise of disapproval, head tilted with an eyebrow raised. "You should get out more," he suggested. "There's a great spectrum of life out there between books and old gods. A lot of them have tails, and it only makes sitting in some classrooms uncomfortable."

This wasn't an entirely fair answer to the question, though, and Salem could take pity on a fellow pathetic person. "But no. I'm supposed to be taller than you. You should appreciate it while you've got it, the world is surprisingly hostile to short people and one little mistake and, poof, you're pooping in a box and have to wait patiently for din-din."