Remembering the name of someone’s dog says “I heard you” louder than any speech could.

Details are proof. Anyone can tell you they care, while recalling that the dog is called Biscuit shows that when they were talking, you were genuinely there. It is also much harder to fake than a compliment, which is why it carries further than one.

After a conversation this week, write down one small thing: the brother’s name, the audition date, the dog. Bring it up next time without announcing that you remembered. The look on their face is the whole point.