Summary

Chapter 2, contined. Pankov unexpectedly gives the trainer some good paper to write on. The trainer thanks him, but keeps writing “on gray, recycled paper” (147).

The trainer describes how, in 1951, the circus that she wanted to work with returned to town and, after witnessing a peaceful nose-to-nose encounter between her daughter and a lion, the trainer’s mother allowed her to join. Arrangements were made for her (the trainer) to take care of both the animals and the children of the other circus performers, with the trainer taking intense pride in doing both jobs well, and developing a friendship with Jan (Part 2, Section 2). Eventually, she worked up to apprenticing herself to the animal trainer called The Master, narration including interjections from Markus that suggest it was around the same time that the trainer had her success with the donkey...