Neither of them have any experience with children, other than being them once, so everything about the Kenari boy is new, sometimes terrifying, sometimes hilarious, and often deeply moving. Did all children pick up language and tech this quickly, or was Maarva already assuming her child was smarter, quicker and in every way above average? After the first parent-teacher conference at Rix Road Primary, which leaves her and Clem both seething over demerits for “not coloring between the lines” and “runs with scissors,” Maarva concludes that the fault obviously lies with those who just can’t keep up with her son.