The Handmaid's Tale

Nearly 300 years ago, a prince stood prisoner before three people traitors: Kishan, his brother; Yesubai, his betrothed; Lokesh, Yesubai's father and raja of a neighboring kingdom. After returning home from battle, the prisoner discovered his brother and his fiancée had been seeing each other while he was gone. Lokesh promised Yesubai to Kishan on one condition: that he and his brother each give the raja their amulets. If the prince did not obey, he would die. When the prisoner did not comply, Lokesh grabbed the prince and slit his wrist with a dagger. The man let the prince's blood drip onto a wooden talisman. When it began to glow, Kishan and Yesubai attempted to subdue the sorcerer. They were easily thrown off. Yesubai hit her head against

Davis in the kennel playing with the dogs the following morning. He told her she would be walking the dogs every morning. After the dogs had been exercised, Mr. Davis took Kelsey to the barn. There, he introduced her to Dhiren, the white tiger, whom she decided to nickname Ren. Kelsey was mesmerized by the creature's bright blue eyes. She went through the steps of feeding the tiger, and proceeded to watch Mr. Davis go over the tiger's performance routine. Kelsey noticed the animal was calm and tame, even on the occasions his trainer stepped on his tail. After a while, Kelsey went on to team up with Matt once more as a bus of senior citizens shuffled in. After the show, Kelsey returns to the tiger's barn. She sketched the animal in her journal. When Matt's father joined her, she asked if the white tiger ever got lonely. Mr. Davis told her Ren rejected the females he had been introduced to. Kelsey made the barn her retreat, a place for her to draw and read and enjoy the company of the white tiger. One week later, she and Matt were watching Ren's performance when he froze in place and stared Kelsey down. Matt remarked that this had never happened before. After the show Kelsey felt compelled to pet Ren. He welcomed the touch and licked her hand. Kelsey later read him the poem I Am the Cat by Leila Usher because she thought he would appreciate it. She stroked the tiger one last time before wishing he were free to