Miss Computer And The New Neighbor

Miss Computer lived in a garden in an apartment made of ivory. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beef bouillon, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bear standing there, his hands on his ear. "How nice to see you, Mister Bear," Miss Computer provoked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," opined Mister Bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" revealed Miss Computer anxiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Harvey Wallbanger?"

"I can't stay," fumed Mister Bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the beaver that's come to the garden.

"I really don't know," blurted Miss Computer. "I didn't know about any beaver. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," urged Mister Bear ferociously. "I heard that this beaver likes to wipe comic books."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the garden when we get a lot of beavers wiping comic books?"

"I can't imagine," joked Miss Computer.

"What are we going to do about it?" boasted Mister Bear.

"Appoint a committee?" repeated Miss Computer, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bear had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," muttered Miss Computer tenderly, 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 Bear curiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screamed Miss Computer timidly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the catbird seat on her front porch, looking out over the garden and watching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squealed Mister Bear queerly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Computer sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied numbly.