And this is Pepper, who is frenetic and affectionate. Dave describes Pepper as being “like Velcro.” Sure enough, Pepper sticks to the family members like Velcro, at least when she is not checking out the kitchen counter for stray crumbs or, better yet, dishes still unserved. Velcro has the art of the "pity me" look down to a science. She sat next to Annissa while Annissa was eating apple pie, and she cast the most amazing guilt-eliciting glance at her tormentor. Annissa affective filter† was very high, though, and she resisted the manipulation. † The affective filter is a phrase from our pedagogy classes of years agone. For some reason it has stuck with all of us.