The barn is big and wooden and old. The door makes a long, slow sound when Toto opens it.
Creak.
Inside, it is warm and dark. The light comes in from the small windows, yellow and dusty. It smells like hay and animals and something else — something Toto cannot name, but she likes it.
Daisy is in her place. She is always in her place.
Daisy is black and white and very large. Her eyes are brown and slow. She looks at Toto the way big animals look at small people — calm, like nothing is a surprise.
'Good morning, Daisy,' Toto says.
Daisy blinks.
Dad is at the other side of the barn. He has a bucket and a brush. He is cleaning the floor. He does this every morning.
'You caught Penny?' he says. He does not look up. He already knows.
'She went into the garden,' Toto says.
'Did she eat anything?'
Toto thinks. 'No. I was fast.'
'Good.'
Toto stands next to Daisy. She puts her hand on Daisy's side. The skin is warm and soft, like a big, heavy blanket.
Daisy breathes in. Daisy breathes out.
'Why does Daisy make that sound in the morning?' Toto asks. 'The loud one.'
Dad stops brushing. He thinks for a moment.
'She's saying hello,' he says. 'She's saying: I'm here, it's morning, where is everyone?'
'She's asking?'
'Maybe. Animals don't use words. But they have feelings. When they are happy, they show it. When they are hungry, they show it. When they are lonely, they show it too.'
Toto looks at Daisy.
Daisy looks at Toto.
'I think she's happy now,' Toto says.
'I think so too,' Dad says.
Toto takes out her notebook. She draws a cow. Under the drawing she writes: Daisy says hello in the morning. She asks: where is everyone?
She puts the notebook back in her pocket.
'Come on,' Dad says. 'Grandpa Joe is waiting. He has something to show you.'
Toto's head comes up fast. 'What is it?'
'You'll see,' Dad says. He smiles the small smile he uses when he knows something she doesn't.