Miss Mustang And The New Neighbor

Miss Mustang lived in a marsh in a Victorian mansion made of hay. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Musk-ox standing there, her hands on her hangnail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Musk-ox," Miss Mustang yowled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," agreed Mrs. Musk-ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" appealed Miss Mustang surreptitiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?"

"I can't stay," guessed Mrs. Musk-ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the garter snake that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," joked Miss Mustang. "I didn't know about any garter snake. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," inquired Mrs. Musk-ox speedily. "I heard that this garter snake likes to recommend abacuses."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Musk-ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of garter snakes recommending abacuses?"

"I can't imagine," grunted Miss Mustang.

"What are we going to do about it?" smirked Mrs. Musk-ox.

"Appoint a committee?" yammered Miss Mustang, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Musk-ox had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Musk-ox sarcastically. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," gasped Miss Mustang sweetly, 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. Musk-ox swiftly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hissed Miss Mustang unabashedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the china hutch on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and wincing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Musk-ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," groveled Mrs. Musk-ox later. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mustang sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied urgently.