Summary

Aside from Peter, the only saint who interested David as a child was Francis of Assisi who was friends with the animals. Fifty years later, David is sitting outside on his patio in the middle of the night waiting for Carol, a fox he has befriended. Foxes, along with other wildlife are common around his house in Sussex, which one of the reasons David does not want a pet cat who will act as a predator. David also does not want a pet because it will cause conflict between him and Hugh as they disagree on how to care for them. David is of the "'Let's-fatten-you-up-until-you're-too-obese-to-do-much-of-anything," while Hugh is more practical or "mean" as David is "apt to call it" (147).

David first met and named Carol when she wandered through their yard, but soon he is throwing food into the pasture for her. Hugh...