Wayne knew that, if the hearing didn't go well, he'd barely ever get to see Rhys, which meant his exposure to the Magical world would be limited.
He also knew that if it did go well, Rhys's rough-and-tumble attitude could get him seriously hurt at any altitude.
But he also really wanted to give him a broom for his eighth birthday, too.
Wayne had missed a shift at McDonald's, but had managed to pick up some extra work on his side job - mostly weights-and-measures stuff - and had the cash to go for it.
"Hello?" It hadn't meant to be a question, but he wasn't sure how to introduce himself to a barely-remembered sort-of-classmate from eons ago.