Miss Worm And The New Neighbor

Miss Worm lived beside a creek in a motor home made of cast iron. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken gumbo, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Raccoon standing there, her hands on her fingernail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Raccoon," Miss Worm said, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sneered Mrs. Raccoon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" exploded Miss Worm primly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of bouillon?"

"I can't stay," gabbed Mrs. Raccoon. I just want to ask you what you think of the bison that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," howled Miss Worm. "I didn't know about any bison. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," continued Mrs. Raccoon ignobly. "I heard that this bison likes to smell spoons."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Raccoon, 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 bison smelling spoons?"

"I can't imagine," imitated Miss Worm.

"What are we going to do about it?" explained Mrs. Raccoon.

"Appoint a committee?" reminded Miss Worm, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Raccoon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rambled Miss Worm miserably, 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. Raccoon coolly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," said Miss Worm cheerfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the four-poster bed on her front porch, looking out over the creek and murmuring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Raccoon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," protested Mrs. Raccoon happily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Worm sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied flightily.