Miss Polecat And The New Neighbor

Miss Polecat lived at a lakeside in a convent made of rolled oats. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover jambalaya, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Lynx standing there, his hands on his beard. "How nice to see you, Mister Lynx," Miss Polecat squawked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," warbled Mister Lynx. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" fantasized Miss Polecat nervously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of rum?"

"I can't stay," muttered Mister Lynx. I just want to ask you what you think of the manticore that's come to the lakeside.

"I really don't know," opined Miss Polecat. "I didn't know about any manticore. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chattered Mister Lynx carefully. "I heard that this manticore likes to photograph paperweights."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Lynx, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lakeside when we get a lot of manticores photographing paperweights?"

"I can't imagine," snorted Miss Polecat.

"What are we going to do about it?" queried Mister Lynx.

"Appoint a committee?" laughed Miss Polecat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lynx had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," wailed Miss Polecat sagely, 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 Lynx fondly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," howled Miss Polecat languidly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the overstuffed chair on her front porch, looking out over the lakeside and crying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lynx. Do come again."

"Just a minute," smirked Mister Lynx coldly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Polecat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied vigorously.