A Boy and his Dog

Abe and Gabe.  They have their quarrels.  Abe doesn't particularly love being "petted" by Gabriel, especially when he is cornered and half asleep, but Gabriel just loves his doggie so much.  He finds him, wherever he is.  Gabriel is learning, slowly, the subtle difference between an open-palmed slapping of the fur and a twisty, grabby full-fisted pull of the hair.   It's not that Abe doesn't benefit from this relationship.  He does.  Gabriel is a continual source of food and takes much delight as Abe licks his hands or the spoon or high chair or his face (before we've caught him) free of goop. 

And Gabriel is learning the give and take of play.  He gives a toy to Abe and Abe tries to take it.  The two have a tug of war with Gabriel being dragged around the house, refusing to let go.  As an upside, Abe has finally found someone to hold his stick for him.  And most importantly, Gabriel is learning that the best way to play is to give someone something, then try to steal it back and if that doesn't work out so well, just pull harder.  I mean, I'm all into sharing, but babies have to learn the "realities" of this world, right?  You have something someone else wants, taunt them and then run away with it in hand.  If a battle ensues, the stronger (or more clever) hand wins.  No sense crying about it.  That's just the way life is. And actually neither one seems to mind.