diff --git a/crates/mind-body/src/stream.rs b/crates/mind-body/src/stream.rs
index 3aae652..dda212c 100644
--- a/crates/mind-body/src/stream.rs
+++ b/crates/mind-body/src/stream.rs
@@ -415,17 +415,12 @@ fn build_seed(mind: &dyn MindPort, persona: &PersonaRead, since: Option<DateTime
     let fresh = news(mind, &instance, since, &responsibilities, now)?;
     let has_news = !fresh.is_empty();
     let stimulus = if has_news {
-        let mut lines = Vec::new();
-        let mut used = 0;
-        for (line, id) in fresh {
-            if used + line.len() + 1 > SECTION_MAX_BYTES {
-                break;
-            }
-            used += line.len() + 1;
-            lines.push(line);
-            id.into_iter().for_each(&mut cite);
-        }
-        format!("Since your last thought:\n{}", lines.join("\n"))
+        let body: Vec<&str> = fresh.iter().map(|(line, _)| line.as_str()).collect();
+        let kept = cap(&format!("Since your last thought:\n{}", body.join("\n")), SECTION_MAX_BYTES);
+        // Each line is one line (`quoted` escapes newlines), so the lines the bound kept are what the thought read.
+        let shown = kept.lines().count().saturating_sub(1);
+        fresh.into_iter().take(shown).filter_map(|(_, id)| id).for_each(&mut cite);
+        kept
     } else if let Some((line, id)) = unbidden(mind, &instance, now, u64::try_from(now.timestamp()).unwrap_or(0))? {
         cite(id);
         line
@@ -511,7 +506,7 @@ fn due(since: Option<DateTime<Utc>>, now: DateTime<Utc>, news: bool) -> bool {
 
 fn newest_thought(mind: &dyn MindPort) -> Result<Option<DateTime<Utc>>> {
     let newest = cultnet_rs::Selection { descending: true, limit: Some(1), ..mine(PipelineKind::Thought, mind.instance()) };
-    let found = headers(mind, &newest)?;
+    let PipelinePageItems::Headers(found) = mind.query(&newest)?.items else { bail!("the mind answered documents to a header selection") };
     Ok(found.iter().filter_map(|header| DateTime::parse_from_rfc3339(&header.admission.admitted_at).ok()).map(|at| at.with_timezone(&Utc)).max())
 }
 
diff --git a/crates/mind-body/src/stream/tests.rs b/crates/mind-body/src/stream/tests.rs
index c626b57..ba24dc8 100644
--- a/crates/mind-body/src/stream/tests.rs
+++ b/crates/mind-body/src/stream/tests.rs
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ use std::net::TcpListener;
 use std::sync::{Arc, Mutex};
 
 use anyhow::{Result, anyhow};
-use chrono::{DateTime, Duration, Utc};
+use chrono::{DateTime, Utc};
 use cultnet_rs::Selection;
 use eureka_pipeline::{MemorySort, PipelineDocument, PipelineKind, PipelineReply, PipelineThought, RunOperator, RunTurn, Slug};
 use huginn_mind::{PipelineAdmissionOutcome, PipelineSelectionPage};
@@ -575,6 +575,8 @@ fn a_flood_of_news_fills_the_stimulus_with_whole_lines_newest_first() {
     assert!(seed.stimulus.len() <= SECTION_MAX_BYTES && seed.stimulus.len() > SECTION_MAX_BYTES - 250, "{}", seed.stimulus.len());
     assert!(lines.iter().all(|line| line.starts_with("- You noted") && line.ends_with('"')), "a line was cut: {lines:?}");
     assert!(lines.len() > 10 && lines.len() < 30, "{}", lines.len());
+    let cited = seed.reads.iter().filter(|read| read.kind == PipelineKind::Memory).count();
+    assert!(cited >= lines.len() && cited <= lines.len() + 12, "the thought cites what its stimulus showed: {cited} reads for {} lines", lines.len());
     let newest = lines[0];
     assert!(newest.contains("\"29 ") || newest.contains("\"59 "), "newest first: {newest}");
 }