Miss Lion And The New Neighbor

Miss Lion lived in a gulch in a homeless shelter made of dirt. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oatmeal, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Gerbil standing there, her hands on her claw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Gerbil," Miss Lion queried, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," groveled Mrs. Gerbil. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" shouted Miss Lion later, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," squeaked Mrs. Gerbil. I just want to ask you what you think of the ladybug that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," pleaded Miss Lion. "I didn't know about any ladybug. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," squealed Mrs. Gerbil tearfully. "I heard that this ladybug likes to chisel batteries."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Gerbil, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of ladybugs chiseling batteries?"

"I can't imagine," added Miss Lion.

"What are we going to do about it?" muttered Mrs. Gerbil.

"Appoint a committee?" cackled Miss Lion, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Gerbil had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," noted Miss Lion repeatedly, 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. Gerbil happily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," swore Miss Lion suddenly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the mattress on her front porch, looking out over the gulch and giggling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Gerbil. Do come again."

"Just a minute," snarled Mrs. Gerbil valiantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Lion sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied swiftly.