Miss Musk-ox And The New Neighbor

Miss Musk-ox lived in a hayfield in a monastery made of duct tape. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mushroom quiche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Buffalo standing there, her hands on her pancreas. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Buffalo," Miss Musk-ox swore, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spewed Mrs. Buffalo. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" snarled Miss Musk-ox fearlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Jack Daniel's?"

"I can't stay," chortled Mrs. Buffalo. I just want to ask you what you think of the hornet that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," quoted Miss Musk-ox. "I didn't know about any hornet. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," implored Mrs. Buffalo demurely. "I heard that this hornet likes to rotate Band-aids."

"Um, I don't know what to say," scoffed Miss Musk-ox, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Buffalo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of hornets rotating Band-aids?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Miss Musk-ox.

"What are we going to do about it?" opined Mrs. Buffalo.

"Appoint a committee?" mouthed Miss Musk-ox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Buffalo had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blustered Miss Musk-ox ruefully, 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. Buffalo unnaturally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rumored Miss Musk-ox dolefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and cringing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Buffalo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sputtered Mrs. Buffalo softly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Musk-ox sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied violently.