Miss Anteater And The New Neighbor

Miss Anteater lived on an island in a cabin made of rope. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage rolls, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Musk-ox standing there, her hands on her rib. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Musk-ox," Miss Anteater griped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," conversed Mrs. Musk-ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" snorted Miss Anteater repeatedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of bouillon?"

"I can't stay," revealed Mrs. Musk-ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the flamingo that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," commented Miss Anteater. "I didn't know about any flamingo. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," interrupted Mrs. Musk-ox busily. "I heard that this flamingo likes to wiggle mops."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Musk-ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of flamingoes wiggling mops?"

"I can't imagine," belched Miss Anteater.

"What are we going to do about it?" lectured Mrs. Musk-ox.

"Appoint a committee?" squeaked Miss Anteater, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Musk-ox had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," enunciated Miss Anteater anxiously, 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. Musk-ox joyously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," muttered Miss Anteater unabashedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on her front porch, looking out over the island and drooling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Musk-ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," asserted Mrs. Musk-ox vacantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Anteater sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied resignedly.