Miss Ferret And The New Neighbor

Miss Ferret lived in an outback in a teepee made of cedar. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oyster on the half-shell, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Garter snake standing there, her hands on her foot. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Garter snake," Miss Ferret griped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," simpered Mrs. Garter snake. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spouted Miss Ferret calmly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," debated Mrs. Garter snake. I just want to ask you what you think of the bumblebee that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," exploded Miss Ferret. "I didn't know about any bumblebee. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reacted Mrs. Garter snake swiftly. "I heard that this bumblebee likes to unfasten tissues."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Garter snake, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the outback when we get a lot of bumblebees unfastening tissues?"

"I can't imagine," swore Miss Ferret.

"What are we going to do about it?" persisted Mrs. Garter snake.

"Appoint a committee?" expressed Miss Ferret, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Garter snake had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Garter snake calmly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," tittered Miss Ferret ingeniously, 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. Garter snake smoothly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," warbled Miss Ferret gingerly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on her front porch, looking out over the outback and applauding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Garter snake. Do come again."

"Just a minute," trumpeted Mrs. Garter snake silently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ferret sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied oddly.