>>"My thirteen-year old son Kolya, also awakened by his
>>sister, didn’t help things when he authoritatively informed
>>Zoe that since she was the smallest mammal among us, any
>>predator would obviously eat her first."

>>LOL. That sounds familiar, and typical big brother comment!

>Somehow, I don't think this is a LOL, - it is about a girl
>afraid of predator snakes who is obviously younger than than
>13 and there is no mother with her... Please, what am I
>missing here?

>Saluda

Older siblings can be quite mean to younger ones. The author does not sound like he approved of what the son had said, and even though little sister did not have her mother, she did have her father who I am sure nurtured her. If the situation had continued to be too much for his daughter to handle, I'm sure he would have removed her from it.