mommy was demanding first aid of mrs alden ( and apparently really did need some ; blood was now coursing down her arm in freshets , spotting her yellow slacks and white institutional shoes ) ; blacky the cat was still hissing ; dr etheridge 's gerbils were going mad in the complicated maze of plastic tubes and towers on the far shelf that made up their home ; eric the crazed pomeranian stood at the end of his leash , barking at peter in a strangled voice .