what is that man doing?

Today Pearl is recovering from her sudden and unexpected apprehension that Patrick is imminently dangerous when he does a little sideways dance in the kitchen. There we were: Patrick, me, and several furry Others; Patrick was illustrating something in what we both thought—in that briefest of moments when we were young and happy—was a funny manner. Then Pearl did her best leap and lunge, nipping Patrick’s arm. I grabbed her by her head-collar-with-short-rope-attached and asked her to sit. Bucking ensued. And now she appears hung over and not quite sure if Patrick is someone she should take her eyes off. You can see her thinking, “Will he do that dance again?” I’d like to say, as I might once have done, “Well, Snarly, you never know.” But in truth, after the fracas, Patrick said, “Geez, I wish I hadn’t made that move.”