Miss Crow And The New Neighbor

Miss Crow lived in a housing development in a townhouse made of brick. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lamb curry, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Lizard standing there, her hands on her tail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Lizard," Miss Crow disputed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," concluded Mrs. Lizard. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cried Miss Crow hopefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," insisted Mrs. Lizard. I just want to ask you what you think of the quail that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," mouthed Miss Crow. "I didn't know about any quail. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," bellowed Mrs. Lizard hopelessly. "I heard that this quail likes to extend ingots of plutonium."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Lizard, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of quails extending ingots of plutonium?"

"I can't imagine," decided Miss Crow.

"What are we going to do about it?" proposed Mrs. Lizard.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," squealed Miss Crow woefully, 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. Lizard awkwardly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mused Miss Crow obediently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the washstand on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and pondering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Lizard. Do come again."

"Just a minute," asserted Mrs. Lizard nicely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Crow sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied bravely.