Day 0, opens eyes.


    Day 0, feeds it mountain goat’s milk. That’s what little animal babies drink.


    Day 0, Anissina says contemptuously, “Little animal babies can walk by themselves even without support.” I reply, “What’s wrong with supporting it a little?” But she answers, “That is overprotection.” Leaving me lost for words.


    “Animals naturally have the instinct and habits to survive. All they have to is observe quietly, and they’ll emulate the way their parents walk. If you don’t wait it out patiently, and insist on forcing them to develop before they’re ready, all you’re doing is wasting their natural abilities.”


    Therefore I ask her, what about little babies whose parents aren’t there to teach them? Anissina says with the air of a know-it-all, “Then you just have to teach it yourself.”


    And so in front of the delicate little kitten, I put all my effort into a cat walk for it to observe.


    Conrad catches me in the act.