Phoebe and Her Unicorn by Dana Simpson for August 25, 2022

It’s important to know that while they can both be offensive, there’s a difference between simple ignorance and active malice.

Max looks sad. He LIKES Phoebe!

you have so much to learn, Marigold, when it comes to humans as well as Phoebe and her human friends/acquaintances

Phoebe is more than just Phoebe. She’s a girl with a unicorn for a friend! How does Marigold forget that?

She may only have two legs but she has ten fingers and a whole lotta freckles!

Still better than me and my two left feet!

Unicorns humour. So esoteric.

In French, “faux pas” literally means “false step”. Of course we use it in English to mean mistake or malapropism, but it easier to keep your balance on four legs. Fewer false steps. You can throw out a fore-foot and simply hold it out like a hand without falling over. Try doing that for very long with one of your legs!

Yeah, and she only has 10 fingers. Not like unicorns who have way more fing— OHHHHH…

A friend said that of his dog “Hold up you got four legs I only have two”! Unfair!

Marigold seems to be genuinely worried that she has given offense here, from her expression to the way her apology is less “fancy” than her regular speech (she omits the “I am” before “sorry”; she rarely leaves out or contracts words.)I find that sort of charming. Sure, she’s openly and unashamedly egotistical and self-centered but the idea that she might have actually hurt Max’s feelings honestly bothers her.

But Phoebe has thumbs.

That’s OK, Marigold. There’s bound to be the occasional slip when you have inter-species friendships!