Miss Badger And The New Neighbor

Miss Badger lived in a hayfield in a cottage made of rammed earth. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover blueberry pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Ostrich standing there, her hands on her leg. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ostrich," Miss Badger blurted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blubbered Mrs. Ostrich. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" clarified Miss Badger despondently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cosmopolitan?"

"I can't stay," swore Mrs. Ostrich. I just want to ask you what you think of the kitty that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," yawned Miss Badger. "I didn't know about any kitty. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," indicated Mrs. Ostrich woodenly. "I heard that this kitty likes to strengthen needles and thread."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ostrich, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of kitties strengthening needles and thread?"

"I can't imagine," observed Miss Badger.

"What are we going to do about it?" rebutted Mrs. Ostrich.

"Appoint a committee?" blustered Miss Badger, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ostrich had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chuckled Miss Badger roughly, 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. Ostrich openly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," snarled Miss Badger diligently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the coat rack on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and drooling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ostrich. Do come again."

"Just a minute," provoked Mrs. Ostrich obediently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Badger sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied unnaturally.