Has to be.

[ Tom's sliding an arm around him, a casual gesture--always touchy, always feely--and he's curbing him away to the community hall. ]

I have a friend that used to say 'the brave will eat the pea soup.' Old Finnish idiom. It's ringing a little literal these days.

[ He'll help this one. Guide him. Or at the very least, figure him out. Baby steps for both of them. ]