Miss Fawn And The New Neighbor

Miss Fawn lived beside a creek in a nunnery made of slate. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mushroom quiche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Partridge standing there, his hands on his intestine. "How nice to see you, Mister Partridge," Miss Fawn articulated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," preached Mister Partridge. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" orated Miss Fawn nicely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apple juice?"

"I can't stay," responded Mister Partridge. I just want to ask you what you think of the rhinoceros that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," yammered Miss Fawn. "I didn't know about any rhinoceros. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," called Mister Partridge ingeniously. "I heard that this rhinoceros likes to hook candy canes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Partridge, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the creek when we get a lot of rhinoceroses hooking candy canes?"

"I can't imagine," spoke up Miss Fawn.

"What are we going to do about it?" guessed Mister Partridge.

"Appoint a committee?" invited Miss Fawn, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Partridge had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," growled Miss Fawn softly, 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 Partridge zestily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," gabbed Miss Fawn zestily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bed on her front porch, looking out over the creek and wobbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Partridge. Do come again."

"Just a minute," exploded Mister Partridge demurely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Fawn sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied woodenly.