The first thing you teach me to say: br br WO XI HUAN...LILLY! br br ('I LIKE...LILLY! ') br br You laugh & get me to repeat it br so you can hear me say it br br my voice caressing the words br caressing you. br br The first thing I teach myself: br br 'QIN...QING? ' br br (' May I kiss you...please? ') br br SHI? br br ('Yes? ') br br SHI? br br ('Yes! ') br br WO GAO XING! br br ('I am...happy! ') br br br ****** br br THE YEAR OF THE DOG! br br “Go! ” br you say. br br “GO! ” br you say again br br this time br a little more emphatically br br bite br my shoulder br br with your perfect br tiny teeth. br br “GO! ” br br “Dog br in br Chinese! ” br br “Gǒ u...Gǒ u! ” br I echo.