Andrew glows at Max's words of approval, his head coming up in a kind of reflected pride. It helps him muster up the nerve to take the hint in the rest of what his master says.

"I, I was wondering," he says, "I mean -- this isn't something I need, but -- do you think maybe sometime I could ... help with the cooking? I --" More words spill out of him with that same nervous energy, as though he's frightened by his own temerity in asking. "I'm not even sure I remember how, it's been a really long time, but I used to be -- people used to say I was good at it, and I just, I thought maybe it could be ... something I could do for you?"