Miss Buffalo And The New Neighbor

Miss Buffalo lived beside a creek in a retreat made of cornstalks. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast beef, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Jackal standing there, his hands on his face. "How nice to see you, Mister Jackal," Miss Buffalo demanded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniped Mister Jackal. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" growled Miss Buffalo nervously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin and tonic?"

"I can't stay," rationalized Mister Jackal. I just want to ask you what you think of the rhinoceros that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," repeated Miss Buffalo. "I didn't know about any rhinoceros. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," queried Mister Jackal menacingly. "I heard that this rhinoceros likes to slash amulets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Jackal, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the creek when we get a lot of rhinoceroses slashing amulets?"

"I can't imagine," indicated Miss Buffalo.

"What are we going to do about it?" yelped Mister Jackal.

"Appoint a committee?" hollered Miss Buffalo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Jackal had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chimed Miss Buffalo uneasily, 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 Jackal unabashedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," uttered Miss Buffalo needlessly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the creek and fidgeting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Jackal. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chattered Mister Jackal energetically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Buffalo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied glibly.