Miss Boar And The New Neighbor

Miss Boar lived in a pasture in a box made of rope. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover doughnuts, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Muskrat standing there, her hands on her finger. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Muskrat," Miss Boar tittered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," bellowed Mrs. Muskrat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" divulged Miss Boar hopelessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Scotch and soda?"

"I can't stay," thought Mrs. Muskrat. I just want to ask you what you think of the android that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," declared Miss Boar. "I didn't know about any android. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," vouched Mrs. Muskrat dreamily. "I heard that this android likes to toss apples."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Muskrat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of androids tossing apples?"

"I can't imagine," whimpered Miss Boar.

"What are we going to do about it?" informed Mrs. Muskrat.

"Appoint a committee?" said Miss Boar, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Muskrat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," contended Miss Boar brightly, 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. Muskrat craftily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," stuttered Miss Boar sarcastically, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the credenza on her front porch, looking out over the pasture and snuffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Muskrat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," simpered Mrs. Muskrat recklessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Boar sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied deliberately.