Appealing/Appalling —So very, very close in sound, so close, in fact, it’s fun to run the words over my tongue like the opening line of the children’s song, “It’s raining, its pouring . . . ; appealing, appalling . . .”

Appealing: Noun-attractive or interesting.

Verb-Ask urgently, earnestly

Adverb- Add “ly” to demonstrate how very much you want to help, or are showing sympathy. 

As in, “Scooter, Sweetie, come out from under the sofa with my sock. I know how very much you love chewing on it but . . . Scooter! Come!” (I’m on hands and knees now, head down, trying eye-to-eye contact. He—tucked back against the wall with sock in tow.

“Leave it! Release! Scooter!” (Calm your voice. Appeal. Try to remember what Cesar says about staying emotionally calm and assured. Add “ly,” to show how much you “want to help.”

When finally I fully stretched out on the floor and swept a broom’s handle under the sofa sliding fluffy sock-possessing puppy out; when finally, he found himself blocked by the “calm-assertive energy and intention” of his Mistress’s body blocking his exiting path and politely yielded the sock, an appalling look of defeat was the feature of his darling face. No “e” in appalling but double “ll” trouble.

Appalling: Noun-causing shock or dismay; very bad, awful

Verb: to greatly dismay or horrify, shock

I mean, one one little letter, one vowel, not even the first in a list of at least five, an “e.” But what power in its presence.

A small “e” can carry the Latin abbreviation etc. for et cētera; or et seq. for what follows. There is the all important em dash and en dash that use the small “e;” punctuation pressed into use by any who pay attention to the width of “M” and “N” for the purpose of pauses—great or small—in writing our language.

I could honor an “e” by yelling “Eureka!” But doesn’t that require capitalization of the first letter? I mean, can you believe anyone who exclaims, “eureka” or, “eek” without an ‘e’ standing tall?

As for the double “L” in “appalling?

“Scooter! ReLLease! ReLLease the darn sock! Scooter, reLEASE! Scooter . . !.” I calmly, assuredly fetch the broom. We each have our methods.