CHAPTER EIGHT: VISITING STUART'S "NEST"

Margalo carried Stuart to the window of the top floor of the house. He unlatched it and let the two inside. "This is a really big nest!" Margalo remarked.
"It's a human house, as I've stated."
"So, what part of this 'nest' do you live in?"
"I'll show you my room."
"Room? What's a room?"
"It's a part of a house, a specific one, where you sleep, dress, and, -"
"Dress?"
"Put clothes on. But I guess you wouldn't know, as you don't have any."
"No, I don't. Why would I?"
"Maybe we could get some for you."
"I'm not sure the flock would like me wearing clothes. They already think I'm odd enough as it is. This would just make them madder." Margalo paused, raising a talon to her middle in contemplation. "Hmmm, maybe that wouldn't be such a bad idea. Know where I can get some? I didn't know they made them for eagles."
"Well, they don't. But they don't make them for mice, either, yet I found some. New York City's a big place. I'm sure you can find clothes fit for eagles if you look long enough."

"Hey Stuart, who are you talking to?". It was Snowbell.
"My friend Margalo Adler."

"You brought a girl to the house? Mrs. Little probably won't like that."

"I know, which is why I did it when she's out."

"When did you meet her?"

"A few days ago. I rescued her from drowning at Central Park "

"You never mentioned rescuing a girl till today. How come?"

"Margalo Adler is a bald eagle. We're not supposed to be together. If our parents found out they'd flip out."

"Bald eagle! Stuart, you can't be serious! They're mouse eaters! It's like you dating a cat."

"Who says we're dating? I never did."

"Nor did I. I just met him."

"What's she doing here?"

"She's come to see the house."

"Stuart has a great nest here."

"How do you like it here, Margalo?" the cat asked.

"It's a really big nest . And it has a lot of nice things in it."

"I don't suppose that your nest has much in it," Snowbell remarked

" Nope. And speaking of nests, I don't want to soil yours, so I'm going outside to peeoop."

"Peeoop?"

"You don't need to go outside. You can use the toilet," Stuart said.

"Toilet?"

"It's what we go in."

"Where is it?"

"We have three."

"I only need to use one."

"There's one in here.". He took her to the bathroom door. "You should be able to open it with your talons."

Margalo opened the door and went inside. She flew toward the sink. "No, not that!" he told her as she was about to squat over it. He pointed toward the toilet. She flew over to it and relieved herself. " You could have waited till I was out."

"It's in back anyway so you couldn't have seen it."

"It's still not considered proper."

"I'll make a note of that so as not to offend in the future."

As she was about to leave, Stuart said "You're supposed to flush."

"Flush?"

"Yes, it's rude to leave it in there. You need to pull the lever."

Margalo pulled the lever and watched as the bird was swirled around and finally went down the pipe. It gave her an idea. She pulled the lever again and the time dove into the water, giggling as she swirled around. She amused herself by repeating process two times. Stuart and Snowbell watched her, open-mouthed.

"Margalo, that's toilet water!" Stuart gasped. "You're not supposed to swim in that! Now you'll need a bath!"

"Guess I'll have to go outside and find a bird bath."

" You can just use the bath tub," he said, pointing at it.

"How do I work it?"

Stuart pointed to the water knobs. Margalo pulled it and shrieked " Cold! Cold! Cold!"

"Too far!"

Margalo pulled it the other way and cried Hot! Hot! Hot,!"

"Let me do it."

He set the water for just the right temperature.

"What does this do?" Margalo asked, indicating a lever with a talon.

"That's the shower."

"What's that?" He pulled the lever and it switched to the shower. "Amazing! Controllable rain!"

"Well, I'll leave you to take one."

"How come?"

"With humans it's not proper to be in here when someone is taking a shower, especially a girl."

Ten minutes later, Margalo exited the shower. "We really need one of those bathrooms in our nest."

"I lick myself. I don't need a bath," Snowbell remarked. "And I use a litterbox. They won't let me use the toilet."

"Really? You should be able to jump up to it."

"Probably too much effort. I'd have to land just right to keep from falling in. And if I fell in, they'd give me a bath. Besides, I go in the litterbox and they always clean it for me. Sweet deal if you ask me "

"Did you dry off before leaving the tub?" Stuart asked the eagle.

"No, I just shook the water off of my feathers, like I always do after I bathe. I may have gotten the bathroom part of your nest a bit wet."

"Oh man, Mom's gonna kill me!" he groaned. He dashed into the bathroom and used the mouse towel, the one that was placed low enough for him to reach, and began to mop up the floor. It soon became so full of water that it couldn't absorb another drop. And the floor was still sopping wet! "Snow, come and help me!"

"Why should I clean up your girlfriend's mess?"

"She's not my girlfriend!"

BLEEEEEECH! Stuart ran out into the hall as he heard the gagging. Margalo had hacked up a fish spine as part of a pellet. "Sorry, pellet. Perhaps I should have disposed of it outside of your nest," the eagle said.

"Great, another mess to clean up!"

"Sorry."

Stuart picked up the fish scales and carried them to a garbage can. "Margalo, could you go upstairs and help me clean up the mess you made in the bathroom?"

"Sure."

A few minutes later, the bathroom was dry and, Stuart figured, the Littles would never know what happened. "Well, we cleaned up this mess, so my parents won't be the wiser. Let's go back downstairs so I can show you around."

The mouse showed her the kitchen. She asked what the stove did, and, when he turned it on, she cried "Wow, a fire summoner!"

"it's for cooking food."

"Cooking? And to think I always ate my meat raw!"

He showed Margalo the rest of the house, finally stopping at his and George's room. "So, this is my room," he said.

"Ah, so this is your part of the nest. Looks very lovely. Wish I could stay here. Certainly looks more comfortable than my nest. But, of course, I don't think either of our parents would like that."

"Speaking of the Littles, they're coming up the driveway! It's time for your girlfriend to-" Snowbell began to say.

"She's not my girlfriend!" Stuart bellowed.

"Ok, your eagle friend. She needs to go!"

"Ok, just show me how to leave without getting spotted," Margalo said.

The mouse showed the eagle to a window facing the back of the house. As she flew out of it after he opened it, she said "Goodbye Stuart. I hope we meet again."

"Goodbye, Margalo."

After the eagle was gone, Snowbell said "You can thank me for warning you in time."

"Thanks, Snowbell."