Miss Jackal And The New Neighbor

Miss Jackal lived at a seashore in a duplex made of sandstone. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover smoked salmon, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Gopher standing there, her hands on her wig. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Gopher," Miss Jackal wailed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," quoted Mrs. Gopher. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" vowed Miss Jackal unexpectedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," avowed Mrs. Gopher. I just want to ask you what you think of the moose that's come to the seashore.

"I really don't know," affirmed Miss Jackal. "I didn't know about any moose. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blurted Mrs. Gopher fearlessly. "I heard that this moose likes to whack keys."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Gopher, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seashore when we get a lot of moose whacking keys?"

"I can't imagine," howled Miss Jackal.

"What are we going to do about it?" barked Mrs. Gopher.

"Appoint a committee?" chuckled Miss Jackal, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Gopher had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stammered Miss Jackal steadily, 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. Gopher haughtily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," barked Miss Jackal warmly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bench on her front porch, looking out over the seashore and snarling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Gopher. Do come again."

"Just a minute," noted Mrs. Gopher uselessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Jackal sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied boldly.