Their days fell into an easy rhythm. They ate together and usually spent the mornings playing chess or cards. Christopher’s paws and claws could usually push chess pieces where he wanted them to go. Where maneuvering was tricky, he could tell Anthony where he wanted a particular piece to go. Cards were trickier. He could hold the cards in his paws, but he couldn’t manipulate them—at least not without dropping them half the time. At first, Christopher was angry and embarrassed, but Anthony calmed him and patiently held Christopher’s hand of cards for him and manipulated the cards as Christopher instructed. The pleasure they both got from playing overcame the awkwardness of Christopher having to rely on Anthony.
After lunch, they strode the grounds and sometimes entered the woods so Anthony
