Mister Wolverine And The New Neighbor

Mister Wolverine lived in a park in a Spanish colonial made of cellophane. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

He scurried to the door, wondering who would be stopping for a visit at this time of day.

He was surprised to see Mrs. Partridge standing there, her hands on her heel. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Partridge," Mister Wolverine phrased, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," howled Mrs. Partridge. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" fumed Mister Wolverine coldly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chamomile tea?"

"I can't stay," scoffed Mrs. Partridge. I just want to ask you what you think of the butterfly that's come to the park.

"I really don't know," said Mister Wolverine. "I didn't know about any butterfly. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," bragged Mrs. Partridge courageously. "I heard that this butterfly likes to pull balloons."

"Um, I don't know what to say," comforted Mister Wolverine, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Partridge, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the park when we get a lot of butterflies pulling balloons?"

"I can't imagine," articulated Mister Wolverine.

"What are we going to do about it?" inquired Mrs. Partridge.

"Appoint a committee?" exploded Mister Wolverine, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Partridge had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Partridge crazily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," scoffed Mister Wolverine warily, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Partridge awkwardly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," clarified Mister Wolverine oddly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chair on his front porch, looking out over the park and sitting still. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Partridge. Do come again."

"Just a minute," breathed Mrs. Partridge warmly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Wolverine thought he had answered, and was beginning to get grizzled. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Partridge doing these days?"

Mrs. Partridge would have none of it. "So, let's meet at your house, say tomorrow at two?"

Mister Wolverine sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied fearfully.