His face flushed, and I felt like cheering. "Yes," he said stiffly. "Besides de vings." "Hmm. Besides de vings." Nudge tapped one finger against her chin. "Um..." Her face brightened. "I once ate nine Snickers bars in one sitting. Without barfing. That was a record!" "Hardly a special talent," ter Borcht said witheringly. Nudge was offended. "Yeah? Let's see YOU do it." ..
In this excerpt, a tense conversation unfolds between characters where one person feels proud and eager to share their accomplishment. His face flushes with a mixture of pride and nervousness, and he responds stiffly, mentioning "de vings" as a point of emphasis. Nudge, another character, considers the statement and then shifts the focus to her own achievement, brightly recalling that she once ate nine Snickers bars in one sitting without feeling sick, viewing it as a personal record.
Ter Borcht dismisses Nudge's boast as not being a noteworthy talent, which offends her, leading to a challenge for him to try and do the same. The dialogue reveals personalities that are competitive and spirited, with moments of teasing and bravado. The exchange highlights the characters' desire to outdo each other and their playful, albeit pointed, interactions.
