Clara lifted the book she was reading to show her sister a picture. “Look, Lydia. Here’s the owls. Aren’t they cute?”

“No,” Lydia said flatly. “They look cold and miserable.”

“Oh, do they? Huh… I guess they kindof do look miserable. But also, well, that’s just how owls look.”

“Well,” Lydia said, with a dismissive flip of her wrist. “They should have been humans instead. Then they wouldn’t have to deal with that sort of thing. Sleeping in trees and eating mice.”

“Yeah,” I joined in. “Silly owls, eating mice. Let them eat cake, right?”

“Yes!” the little princess cheered. “They should be like us, and eat cake!”