A youngish woman with grey-streaked hair reaches for the crystal. ‘My brother is a hunter and he says it’s better to—’

‘Please, everyone, remember to start with I’m feeling,’ Bonnie says.

‘Sorry, Bonnie. I’m feeling …’ The woman starts again, but then stops. ‘I don’t know how to begin with that. Anyway, my brother said it’s better to know who you’re killing, respect them, and know they’ve had a good life, been free. And the meat, of course, is organic, no pesticides or hormones. Way better than those bloated toxic bodies you buy at Walmart. I went hunting with him once to see what he was talking about. Not my style. But still, I get what he’s saying.’

‘I used to eat the meat,’ my father replies.

The punk-rock girl takes the shell and points it at him. ‘I’m feeling like, if you’re a hunter, you have some kind of mental problem—you’re a threat to society or something. Hunting is murder.’

I nod my agreement at her.

‘Now let’s all take a breath,’ Bonnie suggests. ‘This is a safe space.’

But the breathing doesn’t help cool my cheeks. I’m feeling … argh!

Adam picks up the feather again and looks at me. ‘We don’t see it the same way, I get it.’

Bonnie catches his eye and he starts again.

‘I’m feeling … like I need to explain myself. Hunting’s not evil. I eat meat like millions of other decent people, and I’d prefer to kill food for myself than buy it wrapped in plastic. And I believe we are animals. Humans have always hunted. We’re part of the food chain, and animals eat other animals. That’s just the way of nature. The cycle of life.’

‘So you eat wolves too, do you?’ I ask.

‘I don’t kill wolves. They are apex predators and extremely important to the ecosystem.’

‘Lucky them. And the bears?’

Bonnie sighs. ‘Feelings, please. Remember the rules.’

‘I’m feeling like …’ Adam says. ‘I don’t eat everything I kill, you’re right. And I do take money from some rich folk who are only into it for the sport, who don’t live by the values I believe in. But the law here ensures no animal is wasted; we’re not allowed to take just the trophies. I teach my clients how to use the whole animal, from top to toe, but even if the hunter doesn’t listen, the remains are given to other families. And when I hunt, I only do it in the most humane way. And I take conservation very seriously, just like Jane Goodall.’

No! I want to shout. Jane respects animals and she would never agree with this.

‘I’m feeling frustrated,’ I reply, my voice rising again. ‘Why do you have to do it at all? For money so you can have your fancy house?’