November 7. “Button, did you enjoy assisting me with the cooking yesterday? Was it fun?”

“It was great fun.”

“Do teddy bears eat fish only?”

“Yes but we don’t cook it like you do. We eat our fish raw.”

“But that must be stinky!”

“That’s what we eat. Where has the birthday girl gone?”

“She’s gone to Goa with a friend of hers.”

“Your daughter loves Goa.”

“Yes, she loves that place.”

“Why did everybody else not go? You normally go everywhere as a family!”

“Yes but this is a once-in-a-year trip she likes taking off someplace on her own—and it’s usually Goa with her best friend.”