The man said some funny word that Biddy couldn't understand. She laughed and he laughed too and then said, "Why don't you call me Joe? That's a nice easy name to remember."
"It's a nice name. Do you live in the cave there where the shiny box is?"
The smile left Joe's face. "You were inside the cave?"
"Yesterday. You left the door open."
"Yes. I'm staying there for a while." Joe changed the subject quickly. "What's the matter with your leg?"
"I had polio."
"Polio? You were sick?"
"Yes, I was very sick, but I didn't die, so I was very lucky. I only had my leg get so I can't use it."
"Only that, eh?" Joe mused and seemed intensely interested in the brace. "What a crude conception of efficiency," and when Biddy asked what? he said, "Oh nothing. May I look at that mechanism?"
"You mean my brace?"