Six years later…

“Your child is tormenting poor Sophie,” Sylvia complained, “Haven’t you taught her any rules of proper behaviour?”

“These things take time to learn,” Emily said, looking over at her five-year-old daughter, Amanda Danzi Pomeroy, usually called Mandy for short, lavishing too much attention on the cat. Clearly, the animal wanted to be left alone as it started clawing and biting at the girl’s hand.

“She’s biting ...