Dolts!

Mornings, whichever Mister is first to gain the porch, it is to him that the Smee repairs for scratching, combing, brushing, etc.
A light (figure eight) weave of the Mister’s legs usually makes the message clear.
But sometimes a Mister is a dolt. In these cases, the Smee stretches out on the sea grass mat and claws it like a housewife grabbing madly at the 50% off table in Filene’s basement (as we used to say in the Northeast).
This clawing, like a raindance, is supposed to remind the doltish gods by imitating the requested combing action. This “dumbshow” refers both to the action of miming and the idiotic audience trying to be reached.

“Oh. You want to be scratched?”

Duh.