Miss Eagle And The New Neighbor

Miss Eagle lived on a steppe in a trailer made of wax. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Snake standing there, her hands on her larynx. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Snake," Miss Eagle peeped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," appealed Mrs. Snake. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" responded Miss Eagle narrowly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," responded Mrs. Snake. I just want to ask you what you think of the bumblebee that's come to the steppe.

"I really don't know," asserted Miss Eagle. "I didn't know about any bumblebee. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yelped Mrs. Snake slyly. "I heard that this bumblebee likes to puncture staplers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Snake, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the steppe when we get a lot of bumblebees puncturing staplers?"

"I can't imagine," realized Miss Eagle.

"What are we going to do about it?" panted Mrs. Snake.

"Appoint a committee?" observed Miss Eagle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Snake had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," imitated Miss Eagle zestily, 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. Snake joyously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," uttered Miss Eagle trustingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the washstand on her front porch, looking out over the steppe and chortling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Snake. Do come again."

"Just a minute," laughed Mrs. Snake deliberately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Eagle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sympathetically.