Miss Eagle And The New Neighbor

Miss Eagle lived in a canyon in a sand castle made of pebbles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover strawberry shortcake, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" mentioned Miss Eagle proudly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin and tonic?"

"I can't stay," lamented Mrs. Brine shrimp. I just want to ask you what you think of the peacock that's come to the canyon.

"I really don't know," chuckled Miss Eagle. "I didn't know about any peacock. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," raved Mrs. Brine shrimp menacingly. "I heard that this peacock likes to kick corsages."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Brine shrimp, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the canyon when we get a lot of peacocks kicking corsages?"

"I can't imagine," declared Miss Eagle.

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

"Appoint a committee?" opined Miss Eagle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Brine shrimp had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Brine shrimp perkily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," stuttered Miss Eagle threateningly, 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. Brine shrimp uneasily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," raved Miss Eagle fervently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ironing board on her front porch, looking out over the canyon and freezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Brine shrimp. Do come again."

"Just a minute," debated Mrs. Brine shrimp impatiently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Eagle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied slowly.