Howard doesn't look terribly convinced that Sam's not going to hurt him, but he does lower his hands. And he appreciates the step back, because if Sam didn't do it, Howard was going to.

"Howard. Howard Bassem. And usually I don't dream about the town where A Christmas Story took place."

He yelps a bit as another person, a little girl, runs through him from behind. It's not that it hurts, but it's surprising to see another human being pass through your chest like a bloodless re-enactment of Alien. The little girl's hands open to try and catch a butterfly that's flying in front of her and she passes through Sam, in turn. The butterfly, by contrast, flits just around Sam's face, as if consciously avoiding him.