Miss Rooster And The New Neighbor

Miss Rooster lived on a ridge in a church made of marble. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Owl standing there, her hands on her lung. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Owl," Miss Rooster divulged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," raved Mrs. Owl. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" remarked Miss Rooster delicately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot cider?"

"I can't stay," croaked Mrs. Owl. I just want to ask you what you think of the Doberman that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," repeated Miss Rooster. "I didn't know about any Doberman. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," announced Mrs. Owl noisily. "I heard that this Doberman likes to grip pairs of pliers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Owl, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of Dobermans gripping pairs of pliers?"

"I can't imagine," articulated Miss Rooster.

"What are we going to do about it?" nattered Mrs. Owl.

"Appoint a committee?" shrieked Miss Rooster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Owl had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," repeated Miss Rooster queerly, 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. Owl later. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," interpreted Miss Rooster joyously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and growling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Owl. Do come again."

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

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

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

Miss Rooster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied victoriously.