You know who Layton was? He was that little boy who held his Christmas kitten extra tight to show he loved it. And when it squirmed, he held it tighter to keep it from running into the street. And when it scratched, he grabbed its paws, and when it tried to bite, he squeezed its jaw, and when it hissed, he clamped its neck, and when it died in his hands, it wasn’t his fault, because he was only trying to teach it right from wrong, but it just couldn’t learn. Why couldn’t it learn, Daddy, why? Damn shame—but that’s okay, son, we’ll get you another kitty.
I got to hear Neal Shusterman read this section in a Zoom meet and greet. It was my favorite section before I even read the book.
