Dear Diary,
    Today I babysat Poena. She sucked on my pinky finger the whole time I held her.
    I made a little leash for her. The collar was cloth so that it wouldn't itch her or give her a raw spot. The leash was ribbon so she looked like she was a royal piglet. She oinked like nuts when she saw it—she knew it was for her. I put a violet ribbon on her tail to match the lesh. She looked so cute! She even give me a little show and then, she paraded around the deck and the crew told her it was very pertty and she just walked right to me and oinked a little oink and smiled.
   Then, she walked to the captain's door and oinked to tell me to open the door for her. I knocked and opened the door the captain asked me what I was doing here. I said Poena wanted to show him something, so he stood up and Poena walked around the desk and oinked. He asked where did she get that and she walked over to me and oinked. The captain asked if I could make more. I said, "Yes, if I had ribbon." he said he'd see to that.
   I even made a tiny little leash for Flower, Fuegia's hummingbird. I made it out of thread braided together. I made a leash for Lucky, so in case she go on the land, she won't get lost. I'm working on Sammy's leash right now—got to go—bye.

                     
Mary Grace Brown