Rainwater said, “It would tickle him to know he’d upset you.” “I’m not upset.” “You’re shaking.” Ella looked down at her hands and realized that he was right. To keep her hands from trembling, she clasped them in her lap. Solly started screeching. Just like that he took a sudden and violent objection to his shoes. When she finally was able to hold his feet still, she saw that the toe of one had been scuffed. The smudge was barely discernible, but she kept his shoes polished a glossy black. The mark was enough to bring on a fit. He bucked, kicked, flapped his hands, and all the while emitted an ear-shattering squeal. She removed the offending shoes. He stopped screeching but rocked back and forth so vigorously that his head thumped into the upholstered seat. It seemed not to bother him. On the contrary, it seemed to mollify him, so she didn’t try to stop it.
