Miss Moose And The New Neighbor

Miss Moose lived in a housing development in a mud hut made of old newspapers. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cotton candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Manticore standing there, his hands on his heel. "How nice to see you, Mister Manticore," Miss Moose orated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," trumpeted Mister Manticore. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hummed Miss Moose bitterly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of champagne?"

"I can't stay," expressed Mister Manticore. I just want to ask you what you think of the partridge that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," muttered Miss Moose. "I didn't know about any partridge. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," screeched Mister Manticore stupidly. "I heard that this partridge likes to reinforce mousetraps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Manticore, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of partridges reinforcing mousetraps?"

"I can't imagine," expressed Miss Moose.

"What are we going to do about it?" bragged Mister Manticore.

"Appoint a committee?" expressed Miss Moose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Manticore had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Manticore fiercely. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," informed Miss Moose delicately, 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 Mister Manticore lamely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," suggested Miss Moose thoughtfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and grunting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Manticore. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mused Mister Manticore slyly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Moose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied nonchalantly.