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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link="#0563C1" vlink="#954F72" style='word-wrap:break-word'><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>When The Wrong Folk Move in Next Door<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'>By DeAnna Quietwater Noriega<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal align=center style='text-align:center'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Thwack! a tennis ball whipped past Sassy’s nose, ricocheting off the branch where she clung. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> “Damn it! Humans make awful neighbors! SHE FUMED. Sassy wrapped her fluffy squirrel tail around her trembling body. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>“They have no consideration for those who already live where they<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>build their houses,” commented Fern. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>“You’re right,” replied Larkspur. “They murdered the goldenrod, iris and buttercups to put in a tennis court. They have definitely brought the quality of living in this neighborhood down. Don’t even get me started about the noise and air pollution they bring with them!”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>“This was such a magical place to dance in the moonlight, on midsummer’s Eve,” mourned Iris. “We may have to move deeper into the forest,” she sighed.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>“I hope not,” chittered Sassy. “You fairies have been such good neighbors. We woodland creatures would miss you terribly.”<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>“Hmmm, let’s think about this,” murmured Fern. “What if we make it so unpleasant for them, they decide not to stay?” asked Fern.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>“I know we don’t have your magic, but my folk would want to help with plans to drive these inconsiderate humans away. The problem is we are vulnerable to their chemical poisons, traps and mechanical devices,” warned Sassy.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='margin-left:.5in'>“Let’s roll that tennis ball into that patch of poison ivy. You can act as lookout Sassy and let us know if one of them is coming to look for their fuzzy menace,” directed Larkspur. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'>“Oh, this could be fun,” giggled Iris.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal style='text-indent:.5in'><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>DeAnna Quietwater Noriega<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Cell: 573-544-3511<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Email: <a href="mailto:dqnoriega@gmail.com"><span style='color:#0563C1'>dqnoriega@gmail.com</span></a><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Author of <i>Fifty Years of Walking with Friends<o:p></o:p></i></p><p class=MsoNormal><i>https://www.dldbooks.com/dqnoriega/</i><o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>