Poor Hunter. But then, this is why she feeds him so much: she knows what he'd be eating otherwise. "To be fair, New York has some of the best take-out in the world." Anyone who wants to say otherwise had better be prepared to fight her. "And the variety's hard to beat."

Jim's story gets an utterly delighted laugh from her. "Well, I'm glad people have come to their senses on that score." And she makes a mental note: no corn.

She takes her plate and thanks the waitress quietly. "Water, please."