Two badgers ran up and stood on their hind legs, looking at me. One raised a paw and said, "Hi," in a timid voice. I said hi back, unsure if there was protocol to follow. They were both larger than His Badgerness, with heads growing faster than the rest of the body as they made their way into full sentience. Just recently over that line and already much more well-behaved, they seemed to be exploring the world with fresh eyes. I couldn’t help myself. I smiled at them, and they smiled back, then went running off.