Miss Buzzard And The New Neighbor

Miss Buzzard lived in a marsh in a wigwam made of tiles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tuna casserole, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Lynx standing there, her hands on her arm. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Lynx," Miss Buzzard rambled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," instructed Mrs. Lynx. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lamented Miss Buzzard immediately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bud Lite?"

"I can't stay," insisted Mrs. Lynx. I just want to ask you what you think of the brine shrimp that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," proposed Miss Buzzard. "I didn't know about any brine shrimp. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," joked Mrs. Lynx silently. "I heard that this brine shrimp likes to touch crayons."

"Um, I don't know what to say," brought up Miss Buzzard, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Lynx, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of brine shrimp touching crayons?"

"I can't imagine," accused Miss Buzzard.

"What are we going to do about it?" rationalized Mrs. Lynx.

"Appoint a committee?" sniped Miss Buzzard, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Lynx had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mouthed Miss Buzzard dubiously, 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. Lynx lovingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whimpered Miss Buzzard ingeniously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the TV on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and laughing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Lynx. Do come again."

"Just a minute," added Mrs. Lynx hopefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Buzzard sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied joyously.