Alex accepted the bowl and continued to watch his mother as she focused on the ice cream, focused on making him happy with the familiar. Ice cream was a treat thing for them. It always had been. When the world kicked them, it was ice cream and a movie to the rescue.
He had a taste and it was fine, but his mother wasn't.
"No, it's good," he said, and shoveled another spoonful into his mouth. Talking was a challenge for him right now, too, especially given the series of topics.
"So, my exams are done. Did I mention that?" It was the safest thing to mention, so he thought he'd start there.