Miss Pelican And The New Neighbor

Miss Pelican lived on a range in a stinky shack made of graham crackers. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg rolls, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Polecat standing there, her hands on her calf. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Polecat," Miss Pelican revealed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," queried Mrs. Polecat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" avowed Miss Pelican carefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an iced tea?"

"I can't stay," debated Mrs. Polecat. I just want to ask you what you think of the banana slug that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," opined Miss Pelican. "I didn't know about any banana slug. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," quoted Mrs. Polecat thankfully. "I heard that this banana slug likes to hammer rubber stamps."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Polecat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of banana slugs hammering rubber stamps?"

"I can't imagine," squeaked Miss Pelican.

"What are we going to do about it?" stuttered Mrs. Polecat.

"Appoint a committee?" snorted Miss Pelican, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Polecat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blurted Miss Pelican cheerfully, 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. Polecat properly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whispered Miss Pelican thoughtfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the range and rejoicing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Polecat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," trumpeted Mrs. Polecat arrogantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Pelican sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied courageously.