Miss Caribou And The New Neighbor

Miss Caribou lived in a marsh in a manor house made of dreams and visions. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover blueberry pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Beaver standing there, her hands on her hand. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Beaver," Miss Caribou chanted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," begged Mrs. Beaver. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" announced Miss Caribou bitterly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sassafras tea?"

"I can't stay," boasted Mrs. Beaver. I just want to ask you what you think of the snake that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," hissed Miss Caribou. "I didn't know about any snake. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," invited Mrs. Beaver recklessly. "I heard that this snake likes to hang wire cutters."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Beaver, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of snakes hanging wire cutters?"

"I can't imagine," clarified Miss Caribou.

"What are we going to do about it?" began Mrs. Beaver.

"Appoint a committee?" analyzed Miss Caribou, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Beaver had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," vouched Miss Caribou carelessly, 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. Beaver dolefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," decided Miss Caribou cautiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the casket on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and leering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Beaver. Do come again."

"Just a minute," insisted Mrs. Beaver shyly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Caribou sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sleepily.