[Perhaps it is too insistent, but Rip isn't going to pick apart the boy's attempt at holding himself together. The truth is enough to suffer through, without him insisting the child give up that self-enforced steadiness.]

I mentioned we could be from alternate Earths; equally possible is that we are from alternate points in time on the same Earth. Such has been the case even among the people I know here. It is something to consider, should those friends you mention find you.

You may know things they do not, and vise versa.