Miss Colt And The New Neighbor

Miss Colt lived in a cave in a convent made of sheet metal. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg salad sandwich, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Walrus standing there, his hands on his paw. "How nice to see you, Mister Walrus," Miss Colt bragged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," quavered Mister Walrus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reminded Miss Colt madly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Brandy Alexander?"

"I can't stay," acknowledged Mister Walrus. I just want to ask you what you think of the troll that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," fretted Miss Colt. "I didn't know about any troll. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," retorted Mister Walrus pitifully. "I heard that this troll likes to fry lollipops."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Walrus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of trolls frying lollipops?"

"I can't imagine," bragged Miss Colt.

"What are we going to do about it?" hollered Mister Walrus.

"Appoint a committee?" debated Miss Colt, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Walrus had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stammered Miss Colt humbly, 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 Walrus numbly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," persisted Miss Colt warily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the washstand on her front porch, looking out over the cave and dilly-dallying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Walrus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," spewed Mister Walrus suddenly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Colt sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied frantically.