Miss Finch And The New Neighbor

Miss Finch lived on a savanna in a treehouse made of silk. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover borscht, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reacted Miss Finch surreptitiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," remarked Mister Puma. I just want to ask you what you think of the wallaby that's come to the savanna.

"I really don't know," demanded Miss Finch. "I didn't know about any wallaby. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yelped Mister Puma dolorously. "I heard that this wallaby likes to mend houseplants."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Puma, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the savanna when we get a lot of wallabies mending houseplants?"

"I can't imagine," enunciated Miss Finch.

"What are we going to do about it?" concluded Mister Puma.

"Appoint a committee?" chuckled Miss Finch, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Puma had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," burbled Miss Finch irritably, 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 Puma openly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," exploded Miss Finch madly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on her front porch, looking out over the savanna and fainting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Puma. Do come again."

"Just a minute," remarked Mister Puma zestily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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