The Lion, Qualities of Light, or Disasters Involving Animals Summary and Analysis

As a child, Zippy is not enthusiastic about any of the standard answers to "What do you want to be be when you grow up?" as mentioned in "The Lion." Teacher, cowboy, veterinarian and ice skater do not appeal to her. Her dad encourages her to think about what she enjoys the most and how she wants people to see her when she is grown up. At the same time, her love for Telly Savalas prevents her from being satisfied with her own life. Zippy concludes that her ambition is to belong to the Mafia. Zippy's dad procures a framed certificate, partly in Italian, signed by Leonardo "The Lion" Gravitano Salvatore. She reflects that her life changes for the better after this, with the exception...