If asked, John could rationalize why it makes more sense to stick to Martin's stories rather than delve right into the box of Statements. One reason is that he's actually seen increasing returns with what Martin's doing, which seems as if it ought to be impossible. That's only saying so much, of course; Martin's stories don't leave him feeling sated so much as they just dull the hunger into something he can manage, or even ignore. But if things are going to continue to improve -- or at least not worsen -- then he doesn't want to risk throwing it all off on a whim, like abruptly quitting a restrictive diet just when he'd started to get used to it. And the longer he puts off Statements, the more potent they're likely to be when he does read them, and the longer they'll last. It's perfectly sensible.

But Martin doesn't ask, which saves him the trouble -- to say nothing of the risk of appearing overeager, or needlessly defensive.

It doesn't take long for them to set the shelf to rights, and then John glances at his phone and huffs. "Christ, it isn't even eight, yet." He's been doggedly staying up most nights, and it's thrown off his whole concept of time, or at least of 'early.' Martin usually gets up a little before seven, though; he must have rushed right over, probably without bothering to eat anything. "D'you want some tea, first?"