Miss Duck And The New Neighbor

Miss Duck lived in a pasture in a cottage made of ice. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover enchiladas, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Airedale standing there, his hands on his eyeball. "How nice to see you, Mister Airedale," Miss Duck rambled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," babbled Mister Airedale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" harangued Miss Duck grudgingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," asserted Mister Airedale. I just want to ask you what you think of the crow that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," began Miss Duck. "I didn't know about any crow. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," guessed Mister Airedale reluctantly. "I heard that this crow likes to pierce houseplants."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Airedale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of crows piercing houseplants?"

"I can't imagine," observed Miss Duck.

"What are we going to do about it?" commented Mister Airedale.

"Appoint a committee?" yawned Miss Duck, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Airedale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blurted Miss Duck sharply, 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 Airedale pitifully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," persisted Miss Duck woefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the credenza on her front porch, looking out over the pasture and running away. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Airedale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," phrased Mister Airedale viciously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Duck sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied despondently.