Miss Hawk And The New Neighbor

Miss Hawk lived in a pond in a resort made of lace. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken gumbo, 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. Falcon standing there, her hands on her vein. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Falcon," Miss Hawk vouched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," vowed Mrs. Falcon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" joked Miss Hawk delicately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bacardi?"

"I can't stay," shuddered Mrs. Falcon. I just want to ask you what you think of the kitten that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," comforted Miss Hawk. "I didn't know about any kitten. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," avowed Mrs. Falcon flightily. "I heard that this kitten likes to monitor toothbrushes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Falcon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of kittens monitoring toothbrushes?"

"I can't imagine," wept Miss Hawk.

"What are we going to do about it?" moaned Mrs. Falcon.

"Appoint a committee?" shuddered Miss Hawk, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Falcon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," tittered Miss Hawk crazily, 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. Falcon deliberately. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," conversed Miss Hawk tenderly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the crib on her front porch, looking out over the pond and adjusting the clock. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Falcon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," affirmed Mrs. Falcon hastily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Hawk sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied fiercely.