—花木蘭—She always knew adopting a dog was going to be
    tough: although friends and family have drummed it into her re-
    gardless. Ai, Mulan, are you sure you can afford it? and That
    animal’s going to be like your child, you’re not ready for this!
    (She’s worried, if anything, that they think she’s so heedless,
    impulsive–okay, maybe a little, but not THAT much. Right?)
    So, stubbornly, she names the Dalmatian Bǎobèi. There’s not
    a trace of puppy left in Bǎobèi's half-grown ears and paws, and
    to be honest, it’s kind of a tight squeeze when she climbs into
    bed with Mulan. But it’s good to have someone to love, to feel
    them breathing next to you at night.

    This, though. This is tough. “They told me at the pound–she’s
    spayed.”