Her father sighed. Some day Anna would be a little mama herself. That was what Mussolini wanted all of Italy's women to be.
But Anna's father would so have liked a son. One who would be more interested in the Balilla than in "little mama animals."
Yet he loved his daughter very dearly. He now kissed her dark curls as he said, "It is time for bed, mia cara (my dear). Tomorrow night more stories."
Anna sat up in his arms. Tina awoke and blinked.
"Before I go to bed, I must put Niki to bed, too," said Anna.
Her father answered, "Then we must make a house for her."
Tony saw him open a chest of drawers and take out some curious things.
"Now," he said to his daughter, "Come into the back garden, and we shall see what kind of house-builder I am!"
Tony watched them leave the room and saw a light switch on in the hallway. Then the back door opened. Father, daughter, and dog went into the garden.