Her father was in Singapore on business and wasn’t able to be there with her, but he had woken up in the middle of the night and FaceTimed her to wish her and Jon Snow of the Wall the best of luck. The Working Group was due to be judged within the hour.

Anna loved her father and knew how much it pained him to not share this moment with her, but he assured her she had more than earned her place as one of the twelve hundred owners showing their dogs in this world-famous competition. She was touched to have received his call. Her father had raised her to be grateful for the important moments in life, and she made a point to savor today.

As much as she enjoyed her close relationship with her father, she saw it came at a price, which was the effect that it had on their family as a whole. The way her father spoke to Steven, his tone so stern and demanding, was shocking to her. It was true that Steven had started getting into trouble as early as the fifth grade, but even before that, Anna couldn’t help but notice how differently he treated them.

Anna’s Korean grandmother once commented on it as well, telling Anna over lunch one day how lucky she was to be treated like gold by her father. She explained in her halting English that in Korean culture, daughters were considered expendable and were never valued as highly as the sons. The sons had the family name and it was their duty and honor to take care of the parents, while daughters would grow up and marry, joining their husband’s family, which meant all praise or shame they garnered in their lives would be reflections not on their father’s good name, but their future husband’s.

“My daddy doesn’t think that way. Probably because he’s more American than Korean,” Anna had responded without thinking about her audience.

“Your father is Korean first, and will always be,” her grandmother said with a ferocious scowl. “You’d do well to follow his example!” And then her grandmother reached over with her long red nails and pinched Anna’s arm. Anna, only ten years old at the time, cried out, more from surprise than pain. She didn’t shed tears in front of her grandmother, not wanting to give her the satisfaction. Instead she excused herself and wept alone in the ladies’ room.