yet , he was feeling all sorts of new things ever since the death of his human family . she said nothing , just waited for his next words . what do you mean what happened ! close enough for him to notice me . he heaved a sigh and slid down into the water , the suds closing over him like a blanket . `` a couple times in the last year . except , of course , for our own . she worried that her tears would stain the fabric . 