Miss Meerkat And The New Neighbor

Miss Meerkat lived in a field in a chalet made of tar. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oyster on the half-shell, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Jaguar standing there, her hands on her front tooth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Jaguar," Miss Meerkat argued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," revealed Mrs. Jaguar. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" answered Miss Meerkat repeatedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a mint julep?"

"I can't stay," mentioned Mrs. Jaguar. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolverine that's come to the field.

"I really don't know," squealed Miss Meerkat. "I didn't know about any wolverine. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blustered Mrs. Jaguar fiercely. "I heard that this wolverine likes to seize ashtrays."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Jaguar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the field when we get a lot of wolverines seizing ashtrays?"

"I can't imagine," shrieked Miss Meerkat.

"What are we going to do about it?" tittered Mrs. Jaguar.

"Appoint a committee?" implored Miss Meerkat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Jaguar had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," accused Miss Meerkat warmly, 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. Jaguar later. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declaimed Miss Meerkat diligently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the recliner on her front porch, looking out over the field and watching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Jaguar. Do come again."

"Just a minute," interpreted Mrs. Jaguar properly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Meerkat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gruffly.