Stair Toll

There is a baby gate across the landing of our stairs so Tali can't get all the way up (she is waaay too fond of the contents of laundry hampers).  So every time I go upstairs, Tali tries to get ahead of me on the stairs, then flops full length along a step so I am forced to pet the ears and belly before going forward.  Same thing coming down- she is always lying there waiting for me with her sad little chin on the next stair up, and she won't move until she gets some love.  She does have looking pathetic down to an art form!