"She has a name!" he shouted angrily.
"Pray tell."
He looked back at her. She met his gaze and he realized she actually didn't have one.
The farmer Philip was visiting had a curious policy.
"Father," called his youngest daughter. "May I see the new baby cow?"
"No, Jane. Not yet."
The farmer led the missionary away towards the barn. "Would you like to see the new calf?"
"Why not? May I ask why you didn't let your daughter see it?"
The farmer nodded. "She would've named the calf. Maybe not aloud but in her heart for sure. To name something is to love something, missionary. Don't forget that. Didn't God name Adam? She would've named the calf and when it came time to sell it at market she'd throw a fit, demanding I keep it when I can't."
The farmer pushed the barn door open. "When she's older and understands what I mean, I'll let her see the new animals. But not before then."
The brand new creation, standing on shaky legs, took Philip's breath away.
"Her name is Syrena," he replied.
He could hear the farmer in his head as he picked up the mermaid and carried on.
"To name something is to love something, missionary. Don't forget that."
He hadn't.