Well, okay then! Cricket listens to Caspar like he's preaching the gospel, nodding seriously. "A'ight. Didn't have no occasions except funerals back home. I'd rather be at a party any time."

"I love it!" He's thrilled, look at that face, he's like a puppy. "I'd have never thought of something like this as a gift. I mean, I have gifts, but they ain't this clever." He strokes the surface of the glass and makes a mental note to ask Pretty Bird not to knock it over. He hasn't broken anything important yet, mostly just rearranged things, but he does like a little trouble.

He nods at the question. "Sure did. The liquor's just my best lightning with a little coffee to make it blend with the chocolate. And then I added the rest of the ingredients in th' kitchen."