Howling

"Don't play with those wheels, B," Simone admonished. But the temptation to spin those upside down tires on the bicycle in the garage proved too great. B pushed them and, within seconds, his index finger got caught in the spindles. He took one glance at the flayed skin on his finger and howled. "Do you want a bandage?" Simone asked. This only provoked a rise in the howling's intensity. B continued howling for a few minutes. Simone stepped back and watched, knowing from past experience that any further attempt to console the boy would fail. Between two howls, she asked, "Is the howling making you feel better?" This caught B short. He considered the question quite seriously before finally shaking his head. "I'll take a bandage now," he said.