[Not striped, what does he mean - what is a similar word to 'striped', I cannot possibly imagine how his stripes have anything to do with this -

He bites his lip, glances at Don, glances back at the book... takes another few seconds, and then... abandons the attempt in favour of bluntness.]

I realize you... c-cannot read the book w-well. That is not your fault, I just... [He shakes his head a little, more out of frustration that somehow he seems to be saying something wrong again, and then resumes -] ... I just n-need to know whether I should say it for you.