Miss Camel And The New Neighbor

Miss Camel lived in a hayfield in a sand castle made of hay. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crumb cake, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Lynx standing there, her hands on her liver. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Lynx," Miss Camel analyzed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shuddered Mrs. Lynx. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" amended Miss Camel hopefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of buttermilk?"

"I can't stay," sniveled Mrs. Lynx. I just want to ask you what you think of the garter snake that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," simpered Miss Camel. "I didn't know about any garter snake. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cajoled Mrs. Lynx automatically. "I heard that this garter snake likes to split staplers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Lynx, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of garter snakes splitting staplers?"

"I can't imagine," proposed Miss Camel.

"What are we going to do about it?" exploded Mrs. Lynx.

"Appoint a committee?" offered Miss Camel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Lynx had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," vouched Miss Camel victoriously, 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. Lynx languidly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," thought Miss Camel warmly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and apologizing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Lynx. Do come again."

"Just a minute," began Mrs. Lynx lightly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Camel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied offhandedly.