Your roommate

Dan comes back Sunday afternoon from his girlfriend's dorm. You decide he will be a good test.

"Hey, Dan. You owe me $20 for the beer we drank on Friday."

Dan stops for a second as a shudder flows through his body. Then he perks up as if nothing has happened. "Oh, yeah. Right. I'm tapped out right now, but I'll get you on next Friday. It's pay day." He looks a little sheepish for not paying his debt. No questions about it, even though you didn't buy beer Friday. Good, everything seems to work. You already have money from him this week, and you don't need to drain him completely.

"Forget I asked you for money. Act like I asked for a beer."

He gets that faraway look again for a few seconds, then snaps back. "Sure, I think we still have one in the fridge." He opens it up and pulls out the last cold beer. He opens it and hands it over.

"Thanks, Dan." You sip it as you contemplate your next move.