Crane and Zeng in “Crane on a Wire”

And that, Zeng, is how my uncle decided to re-insulate the nest with thatched reed instead of the more popular doubled-up bundled straw.

[laughs weakly] That's very… interesting, Master Crane.

Yep. True story about thatched reed--

Uh, Master Crane? Forgive me, but, uh, why didn't you go with the others?

[sadly lowers his head, having to have heard that] Because I'm a joke, Zeng. At any moment, I could freeze up. [honks] At least here, I can't hurt anyone. [sneezes violently and coughs, almost hitting Zeng with the broom]