"A Change of Heart"
by Gypsy, tcoleman@alaweb.com
An Original Tiny Toon Adventures Fanfic Story
Characters used without permission
7-3-97

1
	Another day dawned bright and sunny in Acme Acres. 
Shirley McLoon opened her eyes slowly as the first rays of light
crept in through her window.  As she lay on the large floor pillow
she slept on, a thought nagged at her, a thought that there was
something she was forgetting.  Then it hit her.
	Tonight was the night of the Acme Looniversity
Homecoming Dance.
	Shirley groaned and sat up.  She had been dreading the
dance since it had been announced a week ago.  Just as she had
feared, all week Plucky Duck and Fowlmouth had been after her,
each trying to get her to go to the dance with _him_.  And the truth
was, she didn't want to go with either of them.
	And to make things worse, Shirl's friends Babs Bunny and
Fifi LaFume were coming over before the dance so the three girls
could get dressed together.  It wasn't that Shirley minded her
friends, she just knew that they would pester her about not going to
the dance with anyone.  Like there was something _wrong_ with
going single.
	Easy for them to say.  Babs had been going steady with
Buster Bunny (no relation) for years now, and Fifi seemed to be in
a pretty serious relationship with Hamton Pig.  Shirley was the only
girl in the little group without a boyfriend.
	Shirl got up with a sigh, pulled on her pink sweater, and
began taking the curlers out of her hair.  As she tied her large pink
bow, she studied her reflection.  Why couldn't she attract other
guys besides Plucky and Fowlmouth?
	After a breakfast of tofu and spring water, Shirley picked up
her books, called goodbye to her mom, and left her large, old
house, heading towards Acme Looniversity.

2
	As soon as she got to the top of the steps, Babs and Fifi
came running up to meet her.
	"Shir-lee!" Fifi cried ecstatically.  "Are you not, how you
say, eekcited about zee dance tonight?"
	"Like, yeah, sure," Shirley replied, without much conviction.
	"Shirl?" asked Babs, looking worried.  "Why don't you just
go to the dance with Plucky or Fowlmouth?  They're not the
greatest in the world, but at least they're a _date_!"
	Shirley just shook her head.
	In homeroom, she took a seat by the open window.  Heart
sinking, she saw Plucky and Fowlmouth enter the room together. 
She had expected them to be arguing, as they had been the whole
week.  But they weren't.
	"Hey Shirl!" called out Fowlmouth as he took a seat next to
her.  "So have ya changed yer mind about going to the $%#$%
dance tonight?"
	Shirl replied, "Like, no.  I'm like totally going single or some
junk."
	"Aw, c'mon Shirl, have a heart, will ya?" Fowlmouth
pleaded.
	Shirley tuned him out and glanced at Plucky, expecting the
duck to complain also.  But he only gave her a half-smile and
walked to the back of the room to sit with some of his friends.
	Shirley was surprised that he hadn't sat behind her, just like
every other time that week.  Just her luck to be in a separate class
from both Babs and Fifi, leaving her no one to sit with.
	Lunch was even worse.  Babs and Fifi went off to sit with
their boyfriends, in honor of the dance, and even though they
invited Shirley to come with them, she knew she wasn't really
wanted.  So Shirl ate by herself.
	At first she was afraid Fowlmouth would come sit with her,
but then she remembered he had lunch detention for cussing in
class- just like every other day.  And Plucky was already seated
with Calamity Coyote and Furrball, the only other guys who didn't
have dates.
	Halfway through lunch, Shirley saw Buster get up from the
table he and Babs were sitting at, and go over to Plucky's table. 
The two boys talked a minute, then Buster rejoined Babs, who
looked at him questioningly.  That's odd, thought Shirley.
	When the bell rang for lunch, Shirley was again accosted by
Fowlmouth, who was coming out of the library.
	"Oh please, Shirl, pleeeease?" he begged.
	Shirley hated to be mean, but she was fed up with him. 
"Like NO!" she yelled.  "I am _not_ going to the stupid dance with
you.  Gag me with a _spoon_, are you like, stupid or some junk?"
	Fowlmouth's eyes filled with tears, and he shuffled off,
mumbling, "Sorry, Shirl."
	"Like, ultra-bad karma, Shirley," her aura said to her.
	"I know," Shirl said softly.  "But I'm so _tired_ of him."
	She turned to her locker and opened it to get her books for
the next class.  Something pink caught her eye, and she pulled out a
beautiful rose.  There was no note or anything.  She wondered
briefly if Fowlmouth had put it there, but then she realized he hadn't
had a chance to.  So... Plucky?  But that was so unlike him.
	Shirl carefully placed the flower back in her locker, deciding
not to tell Babs or Fifi about it.  She would never hear the end of it.
	But who could have put it there?

3
	After that class, Shirley again found a gift in her locker. 
This time was a gorgeous silver ring.  She stared at it, then an idea
came to her.  Maybe if she wore the ring, whoever left it would say
something about it.
	The last class of the day was Cartoon History 101, taught
by Professor Bugs.  Babs and Fifi also took the class; so did Buster,
Hamton, and Plucky.  Usually the whole group sat together, but
today Shirl wanted to be alone.  However, as soon as she entered
the room, Fifi grabbed her arm and pulled her to the table at the
back of the room.
	"Seet by me, Shir-lee, so we can, how you say, gosseep
about zee dance," Fifi gushed.  Shirley obligingly sat in the only
empty desk, which happened to be between Fifi and Plucky.  Shirl
was so absorbed in her dilemma that she didn't notice Plucky's
glance at Buster, or the winks the other toons exchanged.
	Despite Fifi's request, the skunk talked to Babs throughout
the whole class.  Shirl was left alone again, wondering why Plucky
was sitting at the end of the table.  Usually he sat between Buster
and Hampton.
	Shirley was meditating near the end of the class, trying to
regroup her nerves.  She looked up from her mantra chant to see
Plucky staring at the ring on her finger.  He looked up at her,
blushed, and looked away.
	"Plucky-" Shirley began, then stopped.  He turned back to
her expectantly, but she shook her head.
	"Like, never mind," she said.
	Before study hall, Shirley went back to her locker, hoping
that there would be another clue in it, but there was nothing. 
Disappointed, she gathered her books, and trudged toward study
hall.
	Suddenly Plucky's voice broke her concentration.  "Hi
Shirl," he said quietly.
	Oh no, here it comes, thought Shirley, but she only said,
"Like hi, Plucky."
	"You, uh, do you want me to, um, carry those for you?"
Plucky stammered, gesturing nervously towards her books.
	She stared at him, shocked that Plucky Duck, of all people,
was actually being polite to her.  She recovered, and said, "Like,
sure, if it wouldn't be a problem or some junk."
	"Not at all," said Plucky, taking the books from her.
	When they walked into the room, Babs, Buster, Hampton,
and Fifi exchanged knowing glances, but Shirley didn't notice.  She
walked towards her friends, nervously avoiding where Fowlmouth
was sitting.
	"Hi Shirl," said Babs as Shirley and Plucky sat down
together.  The bunny opened her mouth to say something else, but
Professor Leghorn, who had the study hall class that day,
interrupted.
	"Quiet, ah say, quiet, y'all hear!" he yelled.  "Shut yer traps
and git to studyin'!"
	Shirl opened her history book but couldn't concentrate on
her homework.  Suddenly a folded piece of paper fell onto her book
and she looked up into Plucky's eyes.  She opened the note.
	It read:
	Dear Shirl,
	Did you like the rose?
	Plucky
	So it _was_ Plucky that left the rose, Shirley thought.  She
could hardly believe it.  She scribbled a reply on the piece of paper
and started to hand it back to Plucky.
	"Shirley, ah say Shirley, bring that note up here!" snapped
Professor Leghorn.  Shirl's heart sank.  He was notoriously harsh
on note passers.
	Suddenly Plucky stood up.  "Professor Leghorn, it was my
fault, sir," he said.  "I gave it to her."
	Professor Leghorn stared at Plucky, as if shocked that he
had actually offered to take the blame for something.  "Well, bring
the note up here, son," he said.  Plucky took the note from Shirley
and walked up to the front of the room
	Professore Leghorn unfolded the note and read it, but
silently.  Shirley's heart began to beat again.  Maybe he wouldn't
read it out loud.  Then he handed the note back to Plucky.
	"Seein' as how it's bein' a Friday an' all, son, I'll let you off
with half hour detention," the Professor drawled.  "But next time-" 
He drew a finger across his throat.
	"Thank you sir," gasped Plucky in relief as he hurried back
to his seat.
	After the bell rang, Shirley, Babs, and Fifi walked down the
steps together.  "Ready to go to your house, Shirl?" asked Babs.
	"Like, actually, Babs," Shirley said quickly, "I like, need to
regroup, or some junk, so I'm like going for a like walk in the like
woods, or some junk, so is that like okay or some junk?"
	Babs and Fifi shared a secret smile.  They knew that when
their friend said like _that_ many times, she was really nervous.
	"Okay, Shirl, we'll meet ya around five at your place, okay?"
	"Kay," said Shirley, relieved.
	After the other two girls had walked on, Shirl quickly
turned around and headed back to Acme Loo.

4
	As Plucky slowly trudged away from Professor Leghorn's
room, he thought that all his hard work had been for nothing. 
When Buster had suggested that being ultra-sweet to Shirley for a
day might win her over, Plucky had scoffed at the idea.  Then he
had thought that he might as well try, since nothing else had
worked.  But then he never got a chance to ask her.
	If it wasn't for Babs and Fifi going over to her house, he
thought, I could just go find Shirl.  But I'm _not_ going to ask her
out in front of _them_!
	He left the building and had started to walk down the steps
of the building when he saw Shirley coming towards him.  He
blinked, rubbed his eyes, and pinched himself, but she was still
there.
	"Hey Shirl," he said in surprise.
	"Like, hi, Plucky," she said nervously.
	"What are you doing back here?" Plucky asked her as they
walked away from Acme Loo together.  "I thought you were
partying with Babs and Fifi."
	"They're like coming later," Shirl said.  She swallowed, then
continued, "I, like, wanted to thank you for taking my punishment
for me."
	"Aw it was nothing," Plucky said proudly.  "Just half an
hour.  I'm surprised I got off that easy."
	"But you like had no idea you would."
	He shrugged.  "Well it was my fault anyway.  I shouldn't
have given that note to you."
	Shirl said softly, "I also wanted to ask you something."
	"Yeah?"
	Shirley turned to face him.  "I like wanted to know if you
like had a date for the dance yet or some junk."
	He shook his head.
	"Are you even going?"
	"Yeah sure.  Never pass up a chance to party."  He grinned.
	This was the big moment.  If, a few hours ago, Shirley had
looked into her future and seen herself doing this, she would have
thought her crystal ball needed a good treatment of Windex.  "Like,
um, I like um, wondered if you still, like, wanted to, like, go to it
with me... or some junk," she finished weakly.
	Plucky couldn't believe his ears.  _She_ was asking _him_
out!  Buster's plan _had_ worked...
	"Sure!" he said happily.  "I mean, uh, yeah, if you wanna,"
he quickly added in his coolest voice.  "So I'll pick you up at seven
then?"
	"Kay," said Shirley.  She smiled at him.  "Like, see you
later, Plucky."  She floated off towards her house while Plucky
stared after her, amazed.
	Then he took off running for his house.  He banged in the
door and ran to his phone.
	"Buster?" he panted, out of breath.
	"Oh hi, Plucky," came the rabbit's voice over the phone. 
"What's up?"
	"It worked!" the duck yelled.
	"What did?  Ohh, the Plan.  Great!  When did you ask her?"
	"That's the best part!  I didn't!  _She_ asked me!" Plucky
cried.
	"Nice going.  Me and Hampton are going to Shirl's about
6:30 to get the other girls.  Wanna come?"
	"Okay," said Plucky.  "I was gonna pick her up a little later,
but I might as well come with you two."
	"Bye," said Buster.  "Oh, and Plucky?"
	"Yeah?"
	"Don't hyperventilate."  He hung up the phone.
	Shirley let herself into her house and went into the kitchen.
	"Like, Mom?" she called.  No answer.  Then Shirl saw a
note taped to the refrigerator.
	It read:
	Shirley,
	I had to go out of town for on business- sorry it couldn't
wait.  Have fun tonight, and say hi to the girls for me.  Tofu's in the
fridge.
	Love,
	Mom
	Shirley sighed.  She had wanted someone to share the good
news with, and somehow she didn't think Babs and Fifi would be
the right people to tell.
	Shirl floated up the stairs to her room.  Suddenly something
occured to her, and she began to rummage through a large basket
full of papers- notes from Babs and Fifi, old test papers, a five page,
_very_ detailed love letter from Fowlmouth.  Finally she found
what she was looking for.
	It was a picture of Plucky he had given her earlier in the
year, certain that she wanted it.  She hadn't, and had promptly
forgot about it.  Now she was glad she had kept it, rather than
throwing it away.
	Looking at it, she wondered if Plucky had really changed for
good.

5
	Promptly at five, Babs and Fifi showed up at Shirley's
house.
	"Bonjour, Shir-lee," said Fifi.  She sighed romantically. 
"Ah, I am so eekcited, I can hardly wait for zee dance!  'Ampton is
so sweet to take me!"  In a world of her own, the skunk wandered
upstairs.
	Babs rolled her eyes.  "She's been like that all afternoon. 
C'mon, lets go get dressed."
	An hour later, the three were all ready.  Fifi looks especially
pretty, thought Shirley.  The lovely skunk was wearing a pale pink
dress with low shoulders and a long, full skirt.  She had put flowers
in her hair and was sitting with a dreamy expression on her face. 
Babs was wearing a simple but well-suited black dress with straps
and black bows on her ears.  Shirley looked at her own reflection. 
Her blond hair was down, except for her curled bangs, and she
wore the traditional bow in her hair, but her dress was very
different than her usual clothes: it was pale blue and sleeveless, with
a long skirt.  Shirley thought it was pretty, but was it enough to
make Plucky pay attention to her?  She still hadn't told Babs and
Fifi about her date, and she didn't plan to.  She was glad Plucky was
coming after the other girls would have left, so she wouldn't have to
explain.  At the dance, no one would think to ask her.
	But at 6:30, when Shirley went to answer the door, she was
shocked to see Plucky there along with Buster and Hampton. 
Gulping, Shirl let them in.  Babs and Fifi came in, and Buster and
Hampton oohed and aahed over their dates.
	"Hey Plucky," said Babs suddenly.  "What are you doing
here?"
	Plucky said coolly, "I'm here to take Shirl to the dance."
	Babs and Fifi stared at their friend.
	"Shir-lee!  Why did you not tell us?"
	"You little-" started Babs, then she burst out laughing. 
Everyone else joined in.
	"Like do any of you like want something to drink before we
go?" asked Shirley politely.
	"Sure, I'd like some carrot juice, Shirl," Buster said.
	"Yeah me too," said Babs.
	"I want some wah-ter," said Fifi, from where she was
looking appreciatively at Hampton.
	"M-m-me t-t-too," stuttered Hampton, unable to take his
eyes off Fifi.
	"Kay," said Shirley, heading toward the kitchen.
	"I'll come help, Shirl," Plucky offered quickly as he followed
her.
	"So it worked, eh?" Babs asked Buster when the two fowls
had left.
	"Yep, sure did," Buster laughed.  "Say Hampton, you okay,
bud?"
	Hampton was looking at Fifi with a vacant expression.
	"Hammy!" yelled Babs.
	"Hunh?  What?"  The pig looked around, dazed.
	Buster and Babs burst out laughing, and Hampton glared at
them.
	"Do not worry about zem, mon petite pig," oozed Fifi
putting her arms around him.  "Tonight is _our_ night!"
	Babs nudged Buster.  "C'mon Blue Boy.  I think we should
go check on Shirl and Plucky."
	Buster grinned back.  "Good idea."
	In the kitchen Plucky watched as Shirley poured the drinks. 
"You look really nice tonight, Shirl," he said to her.
	"Like, thanks.  You really think so?"
	"Yeah, of course."
	"Babs said she liked this color on me.  She-"
	"What's this about Babs?" the pink bunny said as she and
Buster entered the room.
	"I was like telling Plucky that you liked this dress."
	"Oh, okay."  Babs grinned.  "You might as well put the
waters back.  There's impromptu amore going on in your living
room."
	Shirley laughed.  "Like really, we should be leaving soon, or
some junk.  It's like nearly time."
	"I'll go collect the lovebirds," said Buster.  "Let's get this
party started!"

6
	The three couples arrived at the Acme Looniversity gym
just as the dance was starting.  The gym was decorated with
streamers and ballons, and the Wackyland Rubber Band was
playing music.  There were crowds of milling toons all about.
	"Oh, 'Ampton!" breathed Fifi.  "Thees ess, how you say,
_wonderful_!  Let's dance..."  She dragged the enraptured pig
away.
	"C'mon Buster," said Babs.  "Dancing sounds like a good
idea."
	When they were out of hearing range from Shirley and
Plucky, Buster turned to Babs.  "What's up, Pinky?  You know I
can't dance."
	"Hel-lo!" Babs laughed, "Earth to Buster.  I'm leaving those
two alone.  I think Shirley needs to get acquainted with the _new_
Plucky."
	"You're right, Babs.  The only thing is... d'you think Plucky
has _really_ changed?  Or is he just using this 'new self' to get
Shirley for a one night stand?"
	"I dunno... he seems pretty sincere," Babs said, looking at
the two fowls.
	"Yeah... but this is _Plucky_ we're talking about," Buster
pointed out.
	Babs shrugged.  "Well the only way to find out is just to
wait."  She grinned mischieviously.  "And while we wait, I'm gonna
teach you to dance!"
	"So Shirl," said Plucky.  "You want anything to drink?"
	"Like no, I'm fine.  But it's like totally sweet of you to ask." 
She gave him a dazzling smile.
	"R-really?"  Plucky floated about a foot in the air, then came
back to Earth, playing it cool.  "So ya wanna dance, baby?"
	"Like sure," the loon said, even letting him off for calling
her baby.  As they swayed back and forth, Plucky looked into
Shirley's big blue eyes, and wondered if he had really won her over
for good.  He opened his mouth to speak, but was interrupted by a
sudden commotion.
	Shirley turned, and her heart sank to her shoes.  There, in
the doorway of the gym, stood her two worst enemies- Gizelle and
Jasmine, two swans from her ballet class.  Gizelle had had it in for
Shirley ever since Babs ruined the swan's opening night, and her
best friend Jasmine was more than eager to help.
	To make things worse, both girls looked absolutely
gorgeous.
	Gizelle sauntered over to Shirley, Jasmine in her wake.  A
crowd of toons, many of them bug-eyed males, followed.
	"Well if it isn't the loon girl," purred Gizelle.  "And her like
totally bogus accent," she added in a paraody of Shirley's Valley
Speak.  Shirley felt herself blush as a ripple of laughter went
through the surrounding toons.  She realized that somehow the two
swans had found out about the dance, and had come to exact their
revenge.
	"Hello Gizelle.  Hello Jasmine," Shirley said, trying to keep
her voice from shaking.
	"Ohmigod, she's actually got a date!" cried Jasmine in mock
surprise.  "Why, Shirley," continued Gizelle, "however did you get
such a handsome duck to be your date?"
	"Of course!" said Jasmine, clapping one perfectly manicured
hand to her forehead.  "She must have brainwashed him with her
psychic powers."
	"Oh, certainly, I should have known.  Silly me."  Gizelle
turned back to Shirley.  "Oh Shirl, please tell my fortune?  Pretty
please?"
	The whole crowd began to snicker.  Shirley was shocked to
see even Babs and Fifi laughing behind their hands, even though
they stopped as soon as she looked at them.  Shirl didn't even look
at Plucky.
	"I can predict the future too, Gizelle," Jasmine said with a
sinister smile.
	"Oh _really_, Jasmine?" Gizelle simpered.
	"Oh yes.  I predict that the loon girl is going to have a
_very_ bad evening."
	"I bet you're right on the money, Jasmine," the other swan
said viciously.  "Although, I don't think she needs _our_ help. 
After all, we're only ordinary mortals.  But if dear Shirley has been
around for so many lives, one would think she would learn some
fashion sense."
	"Oh yes, true, Gizelle.  It's always... interesting when a
sixteen year old wears a hairbow."
	Shirley was mortified.  She felt tears welling up in her eyes,
but she knew that if she started crying she would never hear the end
of it.  She wanted to blast the two swans, but at their insults, she
felt all her power drain away.  Even her aura seemed to have
abandoned her.  Shirl looked from Babs to Fifi to all the other
toons.  None of them offered any help.
	"I think the loon girl's upset, Jasmine," Gizelle said, eyes
wide.
	"Oh dear, Gizelle.  We never wanted _that_ to happen.  She
might _hurt_ us."
	"She could get her _aura_ to beat us up!"  Gizelle couldn't
even say it with a straight face.  She burst out laughing, along with
everyone else.
	The only thing Shirley could think of to do was leave.  She
turned and walked towards the door.  Once there she stepped
outside and waited until her face cooled.  Then she peered inside.
	The crowd was still there around the swans, but they had
already forgotten about Shirley.  The males were flirting with them,
and the girls were chattering brightly.  Shirley saw that Jasmine was
sitting down, Fowlmouth in her lap, feeding him grapes one at a
time.  Then Shirley saw Gizelle- with Plucky.  The swan had one
arm around the duck and was stroking his feathers with the other. 
Shirley burst into tears and ran towards home.

7
	Shirley sat dejected in her room, wishing with all her heart
that her mother was home.  Whenever she had a problem she
couldn't cope with on her own, she turned to her mom for help. 
But now, when Shirl needed her most, she wasn't there.
	Shirley cried herself to sleep that night, and when she woke
up the next morning, she didn't feel any better.  She stayed inside
that whole weekend, and screened all phone calls in case it was one
of her friends.  The phone rang eight times on Saturday.  One call
was from a credit card salesman, two were from Fowlmouth, and
the other five calls were from Plucky, asking her to call him.  She
didn't.
	Sunday the phone rang ten times.  Two calls were from
Fowlmouth.  The other eight were from Plucky.
	Sunday night, Shirley looked at her reflection in the mirror
and suddenly a plan came to her.  If all her friends thought the way
she acted and dressed was childish, well then, she would just
change.  And she would show them that she didn't need them.  She
was too upset about Plucky being with Gizelle to even consider
him.  Just when I realized that I loved him, she thought.  Shirl
jumped.  What on Earth was she thinking?!?  But she realized that
she _did_ love Plucky, despite his ego and his selfishness, and that
his new attitude was just an excuse for her to give into him.  And
now she had lost him to another girl.  It's all my fault, thought
Shirley.  I should have told him sooner.
	But things were going to change now.  She would make
Plucky sorry for deserting her.  She would make them all sorry.
	Monday morning, Plucky, Buster, Hampton, Fifi, and Babs
were standing in the hall at Acme Loo, chatting.
	"Wonder if the Loon Girl's still po'd," said Babs.
	"She wouldn't return any of my calls," said Plucky sadly.
	"Oh I didn't even try to call her," said Babs.
	"Moi either," added Fifi, who then giggled.  "It was so
funny what Gizelle said.  Shir-lee, how you say, over-reacted."
	"No she didn't!" Plucky snapped.  "You guys were mean to
laugh at her."
	"You've got it bad for Shirl, don't you, Pluck?" said Babs in
surprise.
	Plucky flushed.  "I just-"
	"Whoa!"  Plucky was interrupted by Buster.  "Who's the
babe?"  He was promptly hit over the head with a mallet, courtesy
of Babs.
	A gorgeous toon fowl had walked into the halls.  She had
long blond hair to her waist and was dressed in a tank top and
miniskirt.  She wore heavy makeup.  Buster and Hampton stared,
much to Babs and Fifi's disgust.  Plucky only looked at her
despondently.  She reminded him of Shirley.
	"Hi there," said Buster, ignoring the glare Babs gave him. 
The girl only glanced at Buster and said "Excuse me" before
walking past.  All five heads turned to watch her go by.  Then, to
the toons' surprise, the gorgeous girl walked to Shirley's locker.
	"Sh- Shirley?" stammered Hampton.
	Shirley turned at looked at them coldly.  "Yes, I'm Shirley."
	"What happened to you?" asked Babs in amazement.
	"Why are you speaking, how you say, normally?" Fifi asked.
	Shirley looked at them a long moment, then said, "I grew
up."

8
	Shirley ignored them all week.  She sat by herself, ignoring
everyone.  She even managed to ignore Fowlmouth who drooled
after her and did not have detention all week- he was too
enraptured to swear.
	On Friday, Shirl ran out of black nail polish, which she had
been wearing all week, so she went to the mall to get more.  She
hurried out of the store, hoping she wouldn't run into anyone, but
her heart sank when she saw a huge group of girls from Acme Loo-
Babs, Fifi, Mary Melody, Sweetie, and even Elmyra.
	"Hey!  It's the pretty snobby white duckie!" Elmyra cried
out loud.  Babs and Fifi whispered together, and Mary and Sweetie
exchanged looks.  Shirley stared at them, her face void of
expression, till they all looked away in embarrassment.
	Shirl walked on, realizing too late that Gizelle and Jasmine
were sitting on a bench up ahead with two guys- Jasmine's boyfried
Steve and a guy Shirley had never met before.
	"Shirley," called Gizelle.  Shirley calmly turned and faced
her problem.
	"Hey girl," the swan said with unaccustomed friendliness. 
"I heard you went through a total change.  You look great!"
	"Thanks," said Shirley cautiously.
	"You really do," Jasmine said earnestly.
	"You know, I hope there aren't any- hard feelings or
whatever about last week," said Gizelle conversationally.  "We
were just teasing you... you know how we girls are!"  They tittered.
	"And we wanted you to come hang with us," continued
Jasmine.
	"You've met Steve before, of course," said Gizelle.  "And
this is my brother, Gordon.  He's been wanting to meet you for
some time."
	"And since he doesn't have a girlfriend, we thought you
could pair up with him," finished Jasmine.
	Shirley looked at Gordon in amazement.  A group of
_swans_ wanted her to hang with them!  And Gordon, one of the
most handsome guys Shirl had ever seen, wanted to go out with
her.
	Shirl started to extend her hand to Gordon, but then she
caught sight of Plucky's ring on her finger.  All week she hadn't had
the heart to take it off.  Pain went through her and she felt tears in
her eyes.
	"No, I'm sorry, but I already have plans," she said very
coolly.  "But thank you for the offer."  Gizelle's eyes narrowed and
she opened her mouth, but was interrupted.
	"Shirley!"  It was Plucky.  Shirl turned to see him hurrying
toward her, and she knew that she couldn't put it off any longer.
	"Shirl," he panted, catching up to her, and totally ignoring
the swans.  "Please talk to me.  I can't understand why you're mad
at me."
	Shirley opened her mouth, but Plucky hurried on.  "Let me
finish before you zap me.  I know that before I've been selfish and
rude and mean to you, but I've changed now, I really have.  I don't
want you mad at me, and I want you to be my girlfriend more than
anything else in the world.  I love you, Shirley."
	She stared at him.  "But why were you with Gizelle last
week?"
	He looked at her blankly.  "I wasn't."
	"But at the dance-"
	"It wasn't his idea, Shirley," Gizelle interrupted.  "It was me. 
I was flirting with him.  He wanted to go after you, but I made him
stay."  Then swan looked down, then back up quickly.  "I- I'm
sorry."
Then Gizelle turned and walked quickly away, leaving her the other
swans to hurriedly catch up to her.
	Shirley turned back to Plucky.  "I'm sorry Plucky.  I've been
cruel to you, and it wasn't your fault.  I know that the others
laughed at me, but you didn't- and well, I like jumped to
conclusions about you and Gizelle because- well, I guess I was
jealous or some junk.  And like I'm really, really sorry and I like
want you to forgive me."  She realized suddenly that she had
slipped back into Valley Speak, and she covered her beak with her
hand.
	"Of course I forgive you Shirl," said Plucky.  He smiled at
her.  "And I liked you just fine the way you were before.  In fact, I
liked you better."
	"Did- did you like really mean that, Plucky?" she asked
suddenly.
	"Mean what?  That I liked you better?  Sure-"
	"No, that you loved me."
	He blinked at her.  "Of course I meant it!  I thought that by
now you'd know-"
	She shook her head, laughing at herself.  "No!  I just
thought you- like wanted a cheap thrill or some junk.  I never
knew-"
	Suddenly she flung her arms around him.  "I love you too,
Plucky."
	"Does this mean you'll go with me?"
	"Like for sure."
	He grinned at her.  "Great!  And can we start tonight?"
	"Like I don't really feel like going out tonight-"
	"It's okay, I understand," he said, sounding disappointed.
	"-but if you want to come over and watch a movie, you
can," she finished.
	"Really?  I mean, sure.  I'll even let you pick the movie."
	Shirley arched an eyebrow.  "Like if you're going to go with
me, you should know by now that I always rent the same movie."

9
	Later that night, Shirley, back in her sweater and hairbow,
sat with Plucky on the couch, watching the end of "Carrie".  After it
was over, Plucky looked down to find her asleep on his shoulder.
	Now's my chance to kiss her, he thought.  She'd never
know-  But he stopped there.  After all the trouble he had gone to
to win Shirl's trust, he wasn't going to blow it now for one stolen
kiss.
	"Wake up, Shirl," he said gently.  "Movie's over."
	Shirley opened her eyes, and smiled to herself.  That had
been the last test of Plucky's new attitude.  The old Plucky would
have jumped at any chance at all to get close to her.  Now she knew
she could trust him implicitly.
	She turned to him.  "I love you Plucky."
	His heart pounded.  Never had four words meant so much
to him.  "I love you too, Shirl," he said.
	She leaned over and kissed him gently.
	Outside, Buster, Babs, Fifi, and Hampton gathered their
ammunition.
	"Okay," said Babs, "first we roll the trees, then we egg the
house, right?"
	"Right!" said Buster.
	"This will teech Shir-lee to be, how you say, snobby to us,"
declared Fifi.
	"Hold on," said Buster.  "Let me go make sure the coast is
clear."  He tiptoed up to the window and peered in.  A slow smile
spread over his face.  "C'mere," he whispered, motioning to the
others.  They all joined him at the window.
	Inside, they saw Plucky and Shirley embracing, kissing
passionately.
	"Wouldja look at that," said Hampton.
	"Oh how romantic!" breathed Fifi.
	"Whoda thunk it," said Babs.
	"Well, gang," said Buster, "Looks like we got a lesson.  We
_were_ really mean to Shirl.  Plucky, for once, wasn't.  So he's the
one who gets the girl.  Well should we give her a second chance?"
	"Yeah, I guess so.  She'll forgive us in time," said Babs.
	"Yes," said Hampton.
	"Oui," said Fifi.
	"But what are we going to do with all this ammo?" asked
Babs.
	A wicked gleam came into Buster's eyes.  "You know,
Montana Max doesn't live too far away."
	And so the bomb squad moved off into the night.

				THE END