Miss Pigeon And The New Neighbor

Miss Pigeon lived in a canyon in an office made of old bottles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover bread and butter, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Rat standing there, her hands on her wig. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Rat," Miss Pigeon prattled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," repeated Mrs. Rat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" requested Miss Pigeon fearlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of carrot juice?"

"I can't stay," imitated Mrs. Rat. I just want to ask you what you think of the bull that's come to the canyon.

"I really don't know," stuttered Miss Pigeon. "I didn't know about any bull. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," thought Mrs. Rat wryly. "I heard that this bull likes to photograph statues."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Rat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the canyon when we get a lot of bulls photographing statues?"

"I can't imagine," grunted Miss Pigeon.

"What are we going to do about it?" fretted Mrs. Rat.

"Appoint a committee?" instructed Miss Pigeon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Rat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rambled Miss Pigeon swiftly, 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. Rat gratefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," tittered Miss Pigeon shyly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on her front porch, looking out over the canyon and glowering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Rat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," moaned Mrs. Rat cautiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Pigeon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied hopefully.