Avery wasn't sure how to respond to yo, so he didn't. He was too preoccupied with suddenly not being completely frozen for the first time since he'd awakened this morning. He looked around as if there might be an answer somewhere in the air around him, pushed up the sleeves of his double layer of shirts and experimentally swallowed, something he'd been doing every now and then to see if his throat was getting sore. All his body systems felt normal, and he could feel the warmth rapidly returning to his hands. In a couple of minutes, the gloves would be too warm... unless he got chilled again.
When Jamal turned his attention to him, Avery had to work hard not to back away. He wasn't dumb enough to think that all people of a certain color were the same, but this man reminded him so much of Vernon, at least in outward appearance and the tone of his voice. "I know," he said, realizing what he must look like. "I was just... freezin' all day, 'til now." He paused to clear his throat and fidget. "Was it cold to you in the house?"