Miss Fawn And The New Neighbor

Miss Fawn lived on a cliff in a villa made of buffalo hides. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cornbread, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Muskrat standing there, his hands on his horn. "How nice to see you, Mister Muskrat," Miss Fawn prattled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spoke up Mister Muskrat. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," boasted Mister Muskrat. I just want to ask you what you think of the kitty that's come to the cliff.

"I really don't know," muttered Miss Fawn. "I didn't know about any kitty. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," quoted Mister Muskrat briskly. "I heard that this kitty likes to manage keys."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Muskrat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cliff when we get a lot of kitties managing keys?"

"I can't imagine," hissed Miss Fawn.

"What are we going to do about it?" provoked Mister Muskrat.

"Appoint a committee?" harangued Miss Fawn, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Muskrat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," raved Miss Fawn impatiently, 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 Muskrat smoothly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," barked Miss Fawn wryly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on her front porch, looking out over the cliff and running. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Muskrat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," raved Mister Muskrat perkily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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