Miss Dormouse And The New Neighbor

Miss Dormouse lived in a housing development in a villa made of gingerbread. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover applesauce, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Airedale standing there, her hands on her tail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Airedale," Miss Dormouse squeaked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whined Mrs. Airedale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pronounced Miss Dormouse fearfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of orange juice?"

"I can't stay," yelled Mrs. Airedale. I just want to ask you what you think of the spider that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," growled Miss Dormouse. "I didn't know about any spider. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," whispered Mrs. Airedale carelessly. "I heard that this spider likes to pack grease guns."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Airedale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of spiders packing grease guns?"

"I can't imagine," chuckled Miss Dormouse.

"What are we going to do about it?" reasoned Mrs. Airedale.

"Appoint a committee?" squawked Miss Dormouse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Airedale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yammered Miss Dormouse deftly, 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. Airedale frantically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," contended Miss Dormouse temperamentally, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the windowsill on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and sitting still. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Airedale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," explained Mrs. Airedale wildly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dormouse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied busily.