Miss Pony And The New Neighbor

Miss Pony lived on an island in a palace made of logs. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover jambalaya, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Buzzard standing there, her hands on her bicep. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Buzzard," Miss Pony vouched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," taunted Mrs. Buzzard. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" appealed Miss Pony uneasily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," whispered Mrs. Buzzard. I just want to ask you what you think of the troll that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," acknowledged Miss Pony. "I didn't know about any troll. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," stated Mrs. Buzzard softly. "I heard that this troll likes to shave amulets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Buzzard, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of trolls shaving amulets?"

"I can't imagine," boomed Miss Pony.

"What are we going to do about it?" purred Mrs. Buzzard.

"Appoint a committee?" simpered Miss Pony, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Buzzard had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rumored Miss Pony reluctantly, 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. Buzzard busily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," drawled Miss Pony nicely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hope chest on her front porch, looking out over the island and dancing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Buzzard. Do come again."

"Just a minute," grunted Mrs. Buzzard carelessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Pony sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied delicately.