Keep it simple.

“That's great. Except for the fact that it's completely unimportant.”

“Hello Ra," he said in a kindly voice. "It's been a long time." A feeble voice f…”

“We only have a few hours, so listen carefully.If you’re hearing this story, you…”

“I hadn't seen my dad get violent since the Great Spatula Incident, and I wasn't…”