Unit 6 (Mijbil the Otter)
Mijbil revisited
Describe Maxwell's care for Mij and Mij's feelings.
How Maxwell cared for Mij. He gave the otter what it needed, not just food:
- a body-belt and lead, so he could take Mij for walks;
- water to play in: the bath, where Mij rolled and splashed, wild with joy;
- toys: marbles, a rubber ball, ping-pong balls;
- his company and attention, and time to settle in at his own pace.
Mij was not kept in a cage; he had the run of the house.
The journey. For the flight, Maxwell had a box made for Mij and carried fish for him. Mij hated the box and fought his way out, tearing the lining until he bled. Maxwell let him out and let him sit on his knee. Mij nuzzled his face and neck.
Reading feelings from actions. Maxwell rarely says 'Mij felt happy'. He shows us what Mij did, and we work out the feeling:
- rolling and splashing in the bath: joy;
- chittering at a tap that would not turn: irritation;
- tearing at the box: terror, desperation;
- nuzzling Maxwell after the box: relief and love.
Build a table. Make two columns: what the animal does and what it feels. Fill it from the story. This is a good way to read any animal story, and to write one.
Mij was not friendly at once. For the first day he was aloof: neither friendly nor hostile, just not interested. He grew close to Maxwell over time, through care and patience.
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