Miss Raccoon And The New Neighbor

Miss Raccoon lived on a prairie in a palace made of Portland cement. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pecan pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Elk standing there, her hands on her esophagus. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Elk," Miss Raccoon comforted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," comforted Mrs. Elk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" groveled Miss Raccoon automatically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a grape soda?"

"I can't stay," stammered Mrs. Elk. I just want to ask you what you think of the computer that's come to the prairie.

"I really don't know," commented Miss Raccoon. "I didn't know about any computer. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," maintained Mrs. Elk caustically. "I heard that this computer likes to toss dollhouses."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Elk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the prairie when we get a lot of computers tossing dollhouses?"

"I can't imagine," spewed Miss Raccoon.

"What are we going to do about it?" guessed Mrs. Elk.

"Appoint a committee?" inquired Miss Raccoon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Elk had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Elk timidly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," implored Miss Raccoon nimbly, 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 Mrs. Elk openly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whispered Miss Raccoon pitifully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cash register on her front porch, looking out over the prairie and chattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Elk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," spoke up Mrs. Elk openly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Raccoon thought she had answered, and was beginning to get self-confident. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Elk doing these days?"

Mrs. Elk would have none of it. "So, let's meet at your house, say tomorrow at two?"

Miss Raccoon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied quietly.