Tad had opened his mouth to inform Jim that he didn't actually have a sister, only the one brother who was still locked away at Happy Volts Asylum and who still had no chin and, by the way, he was fairly certain he'd told Jim all of this before, when he found himself shoved behind Derby's left shoulder.
Was it Derby who always advised him that it was better to say too little than too much, or Daddy? Tad couldn't remember, but for now it seemed sound advice. He was content to remain behind Derby, letting him handle the situation as he saw fit. But he kept his ears open and his muscles poised to step forward, should he think of anything scathing or witty to add to what Derby would say.