Page 3 - LN3-MIJBIL THE OTTER-MODULE

34. Shuffling- dragging (here)
35. Dribble- repeated hits on a ball to make it go ahead
36. Pastime- distraction; entertainment
37. Accustomed- familiar
38. Dreaded the prospect- was in great fear of something that would happen in the
future
39. An appalling spectacle- a shocking scene
40. Whipped off- quickly took off
41. Trickled- drip, flow
42. Shreds- pieces
43. Ricocheting bullet- a bullet with changes direction after hitting a surface
44. Infuriated- very angry
45. Took her into my confidence- here, shared with her my experiences or secrets
46. Craning- stretch out one’s body or neck in order to see something
47. Distressed- troubled
48. Recognition- identification; acknowledgement
49. Nuzzle- to rub gently with the nose
50. Bounded on to- climbed up quickly
51. Terrapin shell- the shell of small turtle found in North America
52. Engrossed- completely interested in
53. Ambush- to attack suddenly from a hidden position
54. Crouching- squat; adopt a position where the knees are bent and the upper body is
brought forward and down, typically in order to avoid detection or to defend oneself
55. Trot off- to leave
56. compulsive: irresistible
57. rituals: a religious ceremony
58. tug: pull
59. gallop: run fast
60. affront: insult
61. spat: past tense of spit

KEY POINTS
 In the beginning of 1956, the author was in Iraq. One day on the way to Basra, he
casually mentioned to a friend that he would love to have an otter instead of a dog
as a pet.
 ·A few days later, the author got an otter from his friend. Two Arabs brought it for
him in a sack.
 ·The author stayed in Basra for a few days. Very soon the otter became very friendly
with the author. It loved to play with water all the time. It played with a rubber ball
also.
 The author named his otter Mijbil. He made for it a body-belt. He would take it on a
lead to the bathroom. There the otter would go mad playing with water. It could
even turn the tap and make the water flow at full pressure.
 After some days, the author was to come back to London. The transporting of Mijbil
became a problem. British airline did not permit animals on its flights. Another
airline agreed to take the animal if packed in a box.