Mister Louse lived in a balsa church in the ridge. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast Cornish game hen, when he was surprised to hear a knock at the door.
He tore to the door, wondering who would be stopping for a visit at this time of day.
He was surprised to see Mister Wolf standing there, his hands on his calf. "How nice to see you, Mister Wolf," Mister Louse declaimed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shrieked Mister Wolf. "May I come in?"
"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" affirmed Mister Louse tenderly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of espresso?"
"I can't stay," pronounced Mister Wolf. I just want to ask you what you think of the butterfly that's come to the ridge.
"I really don't know," declaimed Mister Louse. "I didn't know about any butterfly." "I'm sure she is very nice."
"Well don't be so sure," laughed Mister Wolf obediently. "I heard that this butterfly likes to pinch contracts."
"Um, I don't know what to say," persisted Mister Louse, who really didn't know what to say.
"Well I do," said Mister Wolf, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of butterflys pinching contracts?"
"I can't imagine," snarled Mister Louse.
"What are we going to do about it?" fumed Mister Wolf.
"Appoint a committee?" professed Mister Louse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Wolf had in mind.
"That's exactly right," said Mister Wolf wildly. "A committee to study the problem."
"Well that's a fine idea," blustered Mister Louse sheepishly, 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 Mister Wolf despondently. "You always have such good ideas."
"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," affirmed Mister Louse greedily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on his front porch, looking out over the ridge and primping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Wolf. Do come again."
"Just a minute," gabbed Mister Wolf bitterly. "You didn't answer about the committee."
Mister Louse thought he had answered, and was beginning to get dapper. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Wolf doing these days?"
Mister Wolf would have none of it. "So, let's meet at your house, say tomorrow at two?"
Mister Louse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied charmingly.