Miss Puma And The New Neighbor

Miss Puma lived in a housing development in a tent made of Velcro. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cinnamon toast, when she heard a knock at the door.

She lurched 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 nostril. "How nice to see you, Mister Ferret," Miss Puma decided, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," purred Mister Ferret. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sighed Miss Puma properly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," squealed Mister Ferret. I just want to ask you what you think of the goat that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," drawled Miss Puma. "I didn't know about any goat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shouted Mister Ferret truculently. "I heard that this goat likes to hook bird feeders."

"Um, I don't know what to say," warbled Miss Puma, 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 housing development when we get a lot of goats hooking bird feeders?"

"I can't imagine," cried Miss Puma.

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," provoked Miss Puma accidentally, 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 strictly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," pronounced Miss Puma arrogantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and scribbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ferret. Do come again."

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

Miss Puma thought she had answered, and was beginning to get distressed. "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 Puma sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied grimly.