"Shut up and listen to me, Middie," Starla instructs in a firm voice, taking a moment to turn and put her forelegs around me as best she can for a simple hug. "It would be an excuse if you didn't try and just went on treating everyone awfully without admitting fault. But you're trying, you're making mistakes and you're apologizing – and through it all, you're learning how to interact and be pleasantly sociable. It all takes time – time that I have had to learn, adapt, and find what I enjoy in life. You – compared to me – are just starting out and forging your path and life."