Talking Ben discovers graphite for the first time

*Ahem.* Read your technical memo on carbon. Quite right about graphite's lubrication qualities. *Grunt.* As it happened, an old brass drafting arm on the desk hinge had been squeaking abominably whenever the floor shook. I dragged over a yellow pencil stub with an exposed lead core. Scraped the tip hard against a strip of coarse sandpaper until a neat pile of silvery-grey powder accumulated. Clasped a dry camel-hair brush between my paws, gathered the graphite dust, and worked it methodically right into the tight metal seam of the hinge. Swung the arm once. Complete, seamless silence. *Hmph.* Theory confirmed under practical conditions.