Miss Falcon And The New Neighbor

Miss Falcon lived on a hillside in a boxcar made of Velcro. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cherries jubilee, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Musk-ox standing there, his hands on his belly. "How nice to see you, Mister Musk-ox," Miss Falcon reacted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," proposed Mister Musk-ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" guessed Miss Falcon glibly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of eggnog?"

"I can't stay," informed Mister Musk-ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolf that's come to the hillside.

"I really don't know," screamed Miss Falcon. "I didn't know about any wolf. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," inquired Mister Musk-ox grudgingly. "I heard that this wolf likes to analyze rocks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Musk-ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hillside when we get a lot of wolves analyzing rocks?"

"I can't imagine," squawked Miss Falcon.

"What are we going to do about it?" rumored Mister Musk-ox.

"Appoint a committee?" professed Miss Falcon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Musk-ox had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Musk-ox openly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," disputed Miss Falcon sternly, 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 Musk-ox busily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," orated Miss Falcon effortlessly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on her front porch, looking out over the hillside and crying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Musk-ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," urged Mister Musk-ox daintily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Musk-ox would have none of it. "So, let's meet at your house, say tomorrow at two?"

Miss Falcon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied peevishly.