she 'd watched over him , protected him , watched him transform-like one of those miniature sponges you put in a glass to grow into a complex shape-from a small pink blob with a permanent expression of wide-eyed alarm , to a toddler trotting after her , grabbing always at her jeans , her shirt , whatever he could reach , to a skinny kid with a feathered mop of hair and a slow , shy grin .