I ask Fenton whether he feels at all overwhelmed. He considers this, and shifts in his seat. Yes, he says, finally, but the good still outweighs the bad. “Years ago I was a kid sitting in a room by myself and the world was a big place,” he says, looking out past the porch. “Now I can go anywhere in the world and I feel as if I’d have family there. I have a huge family now, and the world has become a small place.” At this he smiles and runs a hand across his face. He seems momentarily appeased by this thought, by the knowledge that a shy person like himself could, in effect, conjure a family of friends. (Sleeping with Strangers)