It seems clear

... but it often isn't.

A sudden wail from Ella. I glance up from our craft to see the source of her upset. Willa sits on one dining chair, Ella and Dominic in the adjacent one. Well, Ella was in that chair. Now she is slithering off the dining chair on which Dominic kneels. His face looks... surprised? bemused? or is that... guilty?

"What's up, sweetie? Why are you sad?"

Wail...

I look at Dominic. It could be guilt I see there, maybe. Or maybe not. Hard to tell. Worth asking, though.

"Did Dominic push you?"

"YES!!!"

Pretty damning, huh? She understood the question, she gave her answer. Unequivocally. Clear as day. But hang on a bit. I've worked with these guys long enough to know that such declarations are not as reliable as they appear.

"Did Dominic hug you?"

"YES!!!"

"Did Dominic give you a nice, big kiss?"

"YES!!!"

"Is Dominic dancing with a purple elephant?"

"YES!!!"

Each declaration as fervent as the last, each as assured, all equally indignant. YES, he did, YES, YES, YES!!!! and how DARE he????

Since I'll never know the truth -- which, in fact, I suspect to be more a matter of Ella not wanting to share the chair with Dominic -- I just burst into laughter. Ella joins in. Dominic smiles at the two of us. Willa ignore us all and continues scribbling on her coffee filter. We finish our craft.