Miss Wolverine And The New Neighbor

Miss Wolverine lived in a desert in a trough made of cedar. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover moo goo gai pan, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" groaned Miss Wolverine unnaturally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Manhattan?"

"I can't stay," snorted Mister Rooster. I just want to ask you what you think of the toad that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," hissed Miss Wolverine. "I didn't know about any toad. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chimed Mister Rooster thoughtfully. "I heard that this toad likes to label fishing poles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Rooster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of toads labeling fishing poles?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" growled Mister Rooster.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," commented Miss Wolverine sadly, 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 Rooster offhandedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fantasized Miss Wolverine furiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the filing cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the desert and daydreaming. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Rooster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blustered Mister Rooster lamely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Rooster 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 warmly.