Miss Caribou And The New Neighbor

Miss Caribou lived on a peninsula in a log cabin made of sawdust. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dry toast, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Beaver standing there, her hands on her Adam's apple. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Beaver," Miss Caribou whimpered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniffed Mrs. Beaver. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" concluded Miss Caribou blissfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of grape juice?"

"I can't stay," yowled Mrs. Beaver. I just want to ask you what you think of the tropical fish that's come to the peninsula.

"I really don't know," requested Miss Caribou. "I didn't know about any tropical fish. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," interrupted Mrs. Beaver smoothly. "I heard that this tropical fish likes to patch tissues."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Beaver, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the peninsula when we get a lot of tropical fish patching tissues?"

"I can't imagine," indicated Miss Caribou.

"What are we going to do about it?" debated Mrs. Beaver.

"Appoint a committee?" acknowledged Miss Caribou, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Beaver had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," thought Miss Caribou temperamentally, 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. Beaver haughtily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," bawled Miss Caribou stealthily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pool table on her front porch, looking out over the peninsula and taking a bath. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Beaver. Do come again."

"Just a minute," railed Mrs. Beaver solemnly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Caribou sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied urgently.