i appeal to people: please don't give me any more soft toys. i have never been, nor will ever be, particularly keen on them. they take up space and can't be got rid of in cold blood. suddenly, the bed is very crowded because i've got a rabbit, a lamb and a long yellow floppy fish, which my mom, tumbling out from a black garbage bag while springcleaning, claims belonged to me when i was a wee tot. they get to stay because of their prior claim on my affections. i have named them publius (the rabbit), maro (the lamb), and if you think the fish is virgil you're wrong, he's pushkin.