"Kids' matters are serious; can't you see what's important? Why argue with a child for affection?"
I stood there, stunned and furious.
The next day, I took Nina to the pet market by myself.
We played with puppies and kittens, fed fluffy rabbits, and saw scary lizards and snakes; we had a great time.
In the end, Nina chose a pair of silly little birds.
One was snow white, and the other was silver gray; she named them "Little White" and "Little Gray."
As soon as we entered the house, Nina shouted excitedly, "Daddy, come look!," carefully cradling the cage, afraid to shake them.
Jeremy also came out, excited.
But he was holding James' hand.
"Daddy, look at my Little White and Little Gray! Aren't they cute? They can even eat sunflower seeds and..."
Nina eagerly introduced her new friends, but Jeremy interrupted her.
"Nina, James did a great job today; he memorized a poem this afternoon. Impressive, right?"
"James, quickly recite it for Auntie and your sister!"
James stuttered through the poem.
"Thousands of mountains, birds fly away, ten thousand paths, no one... trace... that, that..."