Miss Wolverine And The New Neighbor

Miss Wolverine lived in a pasture in a geodesic dome made of porcelain. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Hamburger Helper, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Rattlesnake standing there, his hands on his toupee. "How nice to see you, Mister Rattlesnake," Miss Wolverine exclaimed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," contended Mister Rattlesnake. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" disputed Miss Wolverine stupidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," announced Mister Rattlesnake. I just want to ask you what you think of the jellyfish that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," repeated Miss Wolverine. "I didn't know about any jellyfish. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," whispered Mister Rattlesnake uneasily. "I heard that this jellyfish likes to destroy shovels."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Rattlesnake, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of jellyfish destroying shovels?"

"I can't imagine," judged Miss Wolverine.

"What are we going to do about it?" grieved Mister Rattlesnake.

"Appoint a committee?" noted Miss Wolverine, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Rattlesnake had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Rattlesnake accidentally. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," blurted Miss Wolverine urgently, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Rattlesnake proudly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rumored Miss Wolverine gently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on her front porch, looking out over the pasture and falling asleep. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Rattlesnake. Do come again."

"Just a minute," prattled Mister Rattlesnake queerly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Wolverine thought she had answered, and was beginning to get excitable. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Rattlesnake doing these days?"

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

Miss Wolverine sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied temperamentally.