Miss Finch And The New Neighbor

Miss Finch lived on a beach in a retreat made of sheet metal. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken pot pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Shark standing there, his hands on his hair. "How nice to see you, Mister Shark," Miss Finch said, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whined Mister Shark. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" crooned Miss Finch unnaturally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," opined Mister Shark. I just want to ask you what you think of the beaver that's come to the beach.

"I really don't know," reasoned Miss Finch. "I didn't know about any beaver. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," snorted Mister Shark primly. "I heard that this beaver likes to slash primroses."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Shark, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the beach when we get a lot of beavers slashing primroses?"

"I can't imagine," expressed Miss Finch.

"What are we going to do about it?" began Mister Shark.

"Appoint a committee?" swore Miss Finch, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Shark had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," persisted Miss Finch suavely, 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 Shark unabashedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chimed Miss Finch testily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the couch on her front porch, looking out over the beach and purring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Shark. Do come again."

"Just a minute," lectured Mister Shark solemnly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Finch sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied trustingly.