Miss Finch And The New Neighbor

Miss Finch lived on a seacoast in a log cabin made of fiber. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" remarked Miss Finch miserably, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," nattered Mister Hedgehog. I just want to ask you what you think of the teddy bear that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," enunciated Miss Finch. "I didn't know about any teddy bear. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," warbled Mister Hedgehog clumsily. "I heard that this teddy bear likes to shake toys."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hedgehog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of teddy bears shaking toys?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" spoke up Mister Hedgehog.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," brought up Miss Finch despondently, 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 Hedgehog gingerly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," boasted Miss Finch defiantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the sofa on her front porch, looking out over the seacoast and swallowing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hedgehog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," snorted Mister Hedgehog valiantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Hedgehog 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 flightily.