Miss Chipmunk And The New Neighbor

Miss Chipmunk lived on a wasteland in a cottage made of copper. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover moo goo gai pan, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Hawk standing there, his hands on his claw. "How nice to see you, Mister Hawk," Miss Chipmunk orated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," taunted Mister Hawk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" appealed Miss Chipmunk excitedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a daiquiri?"

"I can't stay," said Mister Hawk. I just want to ask you what you think of the rhinoceros that's come to the wasteland.

"I really don't know," sniped Miss Chipmunk. "I didn't know about any rhinoceros. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," contended Mister Hawk courageously. "I heard that this rhinoceros likes to mend bags of ice."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hawk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the wasteland when we get a lot of rhinoceroses mending bags of ice?"

"I can't imagine," decided Miss Chipmunk.

"What are we going to do about it?" informed Mister Hawk.

"Appoint a committee?" affirmed Miss Chipmunk, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hawk had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Hawk automatically. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," bawled Miss Chipmunk testily, 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 Mister Hawk courteously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chimed Miss Chipmunk pitifully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the card table on her front porch, looking out over the wasteland and applauding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hawk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," begged Mister Hawk victoriously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Chipmunk sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied furiously.