Alden has begun talking without words. He looks directly at me and goes on at length about whatever's on his mind, long meditations, short observations, tart dismissals and joyful bursts. I do my best to respond. "Oh, yeah?" I say. "Is that right?" I ask. He smiles or sighs or looks away, translating from pure feeling, making music from intonation, letting me know what he's thinking without the refinement of language...