Miss Puma And The New Neighbor

Miss Puma lived in a badlands area in a barracks made of rubble. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg rolls, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Turkey standing there, her hands on her gall bladder. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Turkey," Miss Puma bawled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," emphasized Mrs. Turkey. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" remarked Miss Puma nimbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot buttered rum?"

"I can't stay," uttered Mrs. Turkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the horse that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," hinted Miss Puma. "I didn't know about any horse. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," quoted Mrs. Turkey warily. "I heard that this horse likes to lynch towels."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Turkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of horses lynching towels?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" breathed Mrs. Turkey.

"Appoint a committee?" joked Miss Puma, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Turkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," debated Miss Puma cheerfully, 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. Turkey automatically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chanted Miss Puma majestically, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the crib on her front porch, looking out over the badlands area and playing Farmer in the Dell. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Turkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," suggested Mrs. Turkey busily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Turkey 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 menacingly.