Miss Snake And The New Neighbor

Miss Snake lived in a swamp in a yurt made of flax. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Hamster standing there, his hands on his esophagus. "How nice to see you, Mister Hamster," Miss Snake sneered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," answered Mister Hamster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" disputed Miss Snake admiringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," snarled Mister Hamster. I just want to ask you what you think of the shark that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," avowed Miss Snake. "I didn't know about any shark. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," expressed Mister Hamster joyously. "I heard that this shark likes to harden smart phones."

"Um, I don't know what to say," brought up Miss Snake, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Hamster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the swamp when we get a lot of sharks hardening smart phones?"

"I can't imagine," divulged Miss Snake.

"What are we going to do about it?" provoked Mister Hamster.

"Appoint a committee?" boomed Miss Snake, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hamster had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," panted Miss Snake fervently, 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 Hamster curiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," breathed Miss Snake firmly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on her front porch, looking out over the swamp and cheering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hamster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stated Mister Hamster fervently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Snake sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied happily.