What is the text about? Summarize the events and character motivations.

Father was ashamed of Frank because Frank had struck his sister, Dora, with his fist.

• a) Frank

Dora was laughing at Emily because Emily had splashed green paint on Dora.

Frank was making a ship model.

The correct order of happenings is:

1. Bonzo put his foot in the paint.
2. Dora stumbled when Emily splashed the paint.
3. Dora sat on Frank's model.
4. Dora pulled Frank's hair.
5. Frank hit Dora.

Mother seems to be on Dora's side or at least trying to mitigate Dora's fault. She explains Dora's actions (sitting on the model) by blaming Emily for splashing paint on Dora, rather than directly blaming Dora for sitting on the model or Frank for hitting her.

Given the title "Excuses, excuses" and the context of all characters blaming others, it is likely that Dora's claim of holding onto Frank's hair "to prevent myself from falling" is an excuse rather than the sole reason. She had already struck Frank first.