He did, however, appreciate the courtesy he received. Turned out the ‘old man haunch’ was universal, and several of the ponies immediately assumed he was some elderly ‘taur. Several even offered him their seats on the few benches and public chairs he passed. He’d have to remember that. Still, it was only when he had come to a brief stop at an eatery that the bizarreness of it all came to the fore. He met a bright-faced and annoyingly cheerful waitress with a ridiculously dirty apron at odds with her otherwise neat appearance. After guiding him to a seat and delivering him the cup of tea he ordered, it really struck him.