Miss Pigeon And The New Neighbor

Miss Pigeon lived in a gulch in a yurt made of concrete. 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 sauntered to the door, wondering who would be stopping for a visit at this time of day.

She was surprised to see Mrs. Elk standing there, her hands on her femur. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Elk," Miss Pigeon pointed out, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," roared Mrs. Elk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" stuttered Miss Pigeon victoriously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of orange juice?"

"I can't stay," pleaded Mrs. Elk. I just want to ask you what you think of the lamb that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," announced Miss Pigeon. "I didn't know about any lamb. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wondered Mrs. Elk openly. "I heard that this lamb likes to roll bones."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Elk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of lambs rolling bones?"

"I can't imagine," rationalized Miss Pigeon.

"What are we going to do about it?" lamented Mrs. Elk.

"Appoint a committee?" taunted Miss Pigeon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Elk had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," enunciated Miss Pigeon lamely, 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. Elk impatiently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," panted Miss Pigeon testily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on her front porch, looking out over the gulch and chewing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Elk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," observed Mrs. Elk blankly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Pigeon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied perkily.