Quote:
Originally Posted by
Anna Banana 
She turned her attention back to the poodle, who was really starting to put on a show. "Oh, look how cute she is!" Delilah exclaimed. She squinted at the dog's tags. There was nothing wrong with Delilah's eyesight, but the puppy was turning and halfway sitting. "Can you read what her collar says?" she asked Violet. Delilah sighed and lowered the treat. "I don't think she's going to actually sit. Maybe we need to start petting her or something..." Delilah bent her legs at the knees and clapped her hands against her thighs. "Come here, girl!" She reached out a hand as if to silently ask for permission to pet her (you know, without getting bit or snapped at).
"Delilah, right," replied Violet, who would have been mortally offended to know this little first year lion considered her eighteen-year old self only 'slightly' older. But she would have sympathized with the dread of pairing up; even after five years, Violet still felt awkward about that herself.
Turning her attention to the non-sitting poodle, Violet offered
"Maybe try pushing gently on her rump while you say 'sit'--I think I read that in a book somewhere." And, bending down, Violet tried that very thing herself:
"Sit--sit," she said in what she hoped was a firm voice, and with her right hand, firmly but gently gave the dog's rear end a push downward.