Miss Manticore And The New Neighbor

Miss Manticore lived in an arroyo in a duplex made of tempered glass. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Snake standing there, her hands on her nose. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Snake," Miss Manticore retorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," announced Mrs. Snake. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" warbled Miss Manticore breathlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," phrased Mrs. Snake. I just want to ask you what you think of the toad that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," chattered Miss Manticore. "I didn't know about any toad. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hissed Mrs. Snake sorrowfully. "I heard that this toad likes to overlook packs of gum."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Snake, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of toads overlooking packs of gum?"

"I can't imagine," contended Miss Manticore.

"What are we going to do about it?" chattered Mrs. Snake.

"Appoint a committee?" persisted Miss Manticore, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Snake had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sputtered Miss Manticore carelessly, 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. Snake humbly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," intimated Miss Manticore violently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the sofa on her front porch, looking out over the arroyo and moaning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Snake. Do come again."

"Just a minute," instructed Mrs. Snake brashly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Manticore sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied warmly.