Miss Coyote And The New Neighbor

Miss Coyote lived in a housing development in a townhouse made of wood. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast turkey, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Crab standing there, his hands on his elbow. "How nice to see you, Mister Crab," Miss Coyote stammered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," rationalized Mister Crab. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" began Miss Coyote quietly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tonic?"

"I can't stay," demanded Mister Crab. I just want to ask you what you think of the yak that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," burbled Miss Coyote. "I didn't know about any yak. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," squawked Mister Crab hysterically. "I heard that this yak likes to lengthen pop bottles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Crab, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of yaks lengthening pop bottles?"

"I can't imagine," began Miss Coyote.

"What are we going to do about it?" shrieked Mister Crab.

"Appoint a committee?" winked Miss Coyote, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Crab had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Crab nervously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," blustered Miss Coyote blissfully, 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 Crab elatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," nattered Miss Coyote admiringly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and lying down. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Crab. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chanted Mister Crab urgently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Coyote sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied effortlessly.