Miss Wolf And The New Neighbor

Miss Wolf lived in a backyard in an A-frame made of wattle and daub. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dirty rice, when she heard a knock at the door.

She slithered 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 chin. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Owl," Miss Wolf rebutted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," acknowledged Mrs. Owl. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" wept Miss Wolf gently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," shrieked Mrs. Owl. I just want to ask you what you think of the kangaroo that's come to the backyard.

"I really don't know," debated Miss Wolf. "I didn't know about any kangaroo. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blubbered Mrs. Owl cruelly. "I heard that this kangaroo likes to lose rubber chickens."

"Um, I don't know what to say," snorted Miss Wolf, 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 backyard when we get a lot of kangaroos losing rubber chickens?"

"I can't imagine," opined Miss Wolf.

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," griped Miss Wolf gleefully, 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 solemnly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blathered Miss Wolf smoothly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on her front porch, looking out over the backyard and murmuring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Owl. Do come again."

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

Miss Wolf thought she had answered, and was beginning to get wary. "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 Wolf sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied queerly.