Miss Manticore And The New Neighbor

Miss Manticore lived in a cave in a cardboard box made of steel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Jackal standing there, her hands on her leg. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Jackal," Miss Manticore squawked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," winked Mrs. Jackal. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" gabbed Miss Manticore positively, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," instructed Mrs. Jackal. I just want to ask you what you think of the bandicoot that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," chimed Miss Manticore. "I didn't know about any bandicoot. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," barked Mrs. Jackal hungrily. "I heard that this bandicoot likes to balance fishing poles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Jackal, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of bandicoots balancing fishing poles?"

"I can't imagine," urged Miss Manticore.

"What are we going to do about it?" opined Mrs. Jackal.

"Appoint a committee?" exploded Miss Manticore, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Jackal had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sighed Miss Manticore blankly, 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. Jackal bitterly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," warbled Miss Manticore crossly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the mattress on her front porch, looking out over the cave and panting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Jackal. Do come again."

"Just a minute," burbled Mrs. Jackal nonchalantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Manticore sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied doubtfully.