Midge is Concerned

   “Jake, Jake!” called Midge as she ran up the sidewalk and up the stairs of the porch.  “Jake, Jake!”
   “Slow down Midge,” said Jake.  “What are you so excited about?”
   “It’s a catastrophe!  That’s it a catastrophe!” said Midge as she paced back and forth across the porch.
   “What are you talking about?” said Jake trying to calm her down.
   “Oh, it is absolutely awfu1! Just awful I’m telling you!” said Midge as she continured to pace back and forth. 
   Jake reached out and grabbed Midge by the collar and sat her down in front of him.  “Now! What is so awful and such a catastrophe?  You are wearing me out with your pacing back and forth.”

  “Oh, Jake. I just can’t believe it!  I can’t believe it!” said Midge shaking her head.
  “All right, time to stop this ranting and come to the point.  What can’t you believe?”asked Jake.
  “I can’t believe that Booker-T would stalk Misty,” said Midge.  “I just can’t believe it.”
  “And who in the world told you such a silly thing?” asked Jake. “Booker-T would never stalk Misty and you know he wouldn’t do such a thing.  I’m sure of it.”
  “I didn’t think so. But you should see it. It is just not like Booker-T,” said Midge.
  “Well, what did he do that isn’t like him?” asked Jake. 
  “Well, according to Gabby, first he left these crayons in the backyard over there where Misty lives,” said Midge.
  “Crayons! How in the world does that show he is stalking her?” asked Jake.  “That is silly. I don’t see how crayons in the back yard is proof that he stalked her.”
  “Oh, Gabby said it is.  He says Booker-T’s paw prints were all over the box of crayons.  He left them there and he was hiding to watch her find them,” said Midge.
  “Now that is dumb,” said Jake.  “Crayons just aren’t a clue of stalking. What else did Gabby have to say for himself?”
  “Well, he says Booker-T left glitter and some paste over there too.  The very next day Misty found them in the back yard.  Gabby told her it was surely Booker-T that would be the one to stalk her,” said Midge.
   "Midge, that is just crazy," said Jake.  "How would Gabby know this?"
   “Because he knows Jake. He knows that Booker-T would stalk Misty,” said Midge.  “I just can’t believe it. I can’t believe that Booker-T would do that. Can you?”
   “Calm down Midge.  You and I have known Booker-T for a long time. Do you really think he would do that?” asked Jake.
   “I just don’t know Jake.  I just don’t know for sure,” answered Midge taking a gulp of water.  “I didn’t think he would do that. But do any of us really know what another will do?”
   “I don’t think he did. I think gabby is pulling your leg again. You know how Gabby likes to give you a hard time,” said Jake.
   “Well, you never know Jake,” said Midge.  “Gabby said that Booker-T left a canvas and scissors over there in the back yard two days ago.  He must be up to something to leave that stuff over there. What do you think he is going to do?” asked Midge.
   “Why don’t you stop being so nutty and let’s talk to Booker-T and find out what he is doing.  Wouldn’t that be better?” asked Jake
   “Do you think he will tell us?” asked Midge.  “Maybe he doesn’t want us to know.”
  “Hey, here comes Booker-T now,” said Jake. “Why don’t we ask him about it,”
   Booker-T rounded the corner and as he walked up the sidewalk to the porch, Midge hurried behind Jake and stepped into the water dish spilling it all over the porch.
   “Midge, what are you doing?” asked Jake.  “Will you sit down?”
   “Nothing, nothing,” said Midge. 
   “Well, there goes your water, Jake,” laughed Booker-T.  “What is going on with you Midge?  You are sure clumsy this morning.”
    “I’m okay,” said Midge as she sat behind Jake. “Nothing wrong with me today.”
   “Jake, what in the world is going on with her this morning?” asked Booker-T.  “I’ve never seen here quite like this before.” 
   “She can’t believe something she heard about you,” said Jake.
   “What in the world is going on?” asked Booker-T.  “What did you hear?”
   “Are you stalking Misty?” asked Jake.  “You were supposed to have left crayons, a canvas, glitter, paste and some scissors in her back yard.”
    Booker-T looked at Jake and burst out laughing.  He was laughing so hard that he fell backwards off the porch into the rose bush. “Ouch!” screamed Booker-T.
   Then high above the house, they all heard laughter from the tree.
  “Gabby!” shouted Jake.  “What are you doing up there?”
   “That was so funny.  I couldn’t help it,” said Gabby.  “Midge was so curious about all the stuff in the backyard at Misty’s that I couldn’t resist playing the joke on her.  I told her that Booker-T was stalking Misty and she fell for it.”
   “You are so mean sometimes Gabby,” said Jake. “Why did you tell her such an awful story? Couldn’t you come up with a better joke?  Stalking someone isn’t a game. It is scary stuff and you scared Midge.  She was worried about Booker-T doing something wrong.”
   “I’m sorry Jake. I didn’t think about that part,” said Gabby.  “Midge, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to scare you like that.  Booker-T thought it would be fun too.”
   Midge picked up the hammer that was laying on he table and dropped it on Booker-T’s toe.  “Ha ha Booker-T,”
   “Ouch! Why did you do that?” asked Booker-T.
   Gabby and Jake laughed at Booker-T as he hopped around on three feet shaking his sore paw.
  “What were all the things in Misty’s back yard?” asked Jake.
   “That was something the mistress was working on out there and she left them laying on the porch,” said Gabby.
   “I’ll get you back one day, Booker-T,” said Midge.