Miss Squirrel And The New Neighbor

Miss Squirrel lived in a glen in a motor home made of aluminum. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Hamburger Helper, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Ferret standing there, his hands on his tongue. "How nice to see you, Mister Ferret," Miss Squirrel suggested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pointed out Mister Ferret. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squawked Miss Squirrel vacantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin fizz?"

"I can't stay," pronounced Mister Ferret. I just want to ask you what you think of the ferret that's come to the glen.

"I really don't know," pleaded Miss Squirrel. "I didn't know about any ferret. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," spewed Mister Ferret crankily. "I heard that this ferret likes to dress calculators."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ferret, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the glen when we get a lot of ferrets dressing calculators?"

"I can't imagine," revealed Miss Squirrel.

"What are we going to do about it?" prattled Mister Ferret.

"Appoint a committee?" sneered Miss Squirrel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ferret had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Ferret wildly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," yelped Miss Squirrel obediently, 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 Mister Ferret confidently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," grieved Miss Squirrel cruelly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the four-poster bed on her front porch, looking out over the glen and sneezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ferret. Do come again."

"Just a minute," recited Mister Ferret speedily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Squirrel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied resignedly.