Arianna has taken advantage of my absence to lobby for a pet hamster.  He joined the family shortly before I arrived for my spring break in March. 

Fluffy lives in a cage, but sometimes gets to come out and play in the wooden doll castle.  It's just his size.  Arianna has been diligent about feeding him and cleaning out his cage.  Eddie even figured out how to oil the hampster wheel so Fluffy doesn't keep Arianna up all night with his nocturnal treks to nowhere.  I wonder where he thinks he's going.