Miss Crow And The New Neighbor

Miss Crow lived in an outback in a motor home made of pewter. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prime rib, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Rat standing there, her hands on her Achilles tendon. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Rat," Miss Crow demanded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," added Mrs. Rat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squawked Miss Crow sweetly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a double latte?"

"I can't stay," vowed Mrs. Rat. I just want to ask you what you think of the otter that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," nattered Miss Crow. "I didn't know about any otter. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," breathed Mrs. Rat shakily. "I heard that this otter likes to bless pencils."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Rat, 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 otters blessing pencils?"

"I can't imagine," yammered Miss Crow.

"What are we going to do about it?" commented Mrs. Rat.

"Appoint a committee?" indicated Miss Crow, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Rat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," squealed Miss Crow repeatedly, 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. Rat timidly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," drawled Miss Crow urgently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on her front porch, looking out over the outback and playing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Rat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," amended Mrs. Rat defiantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Crow sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied awkwardly.