Miss Raven And The New Neighbor

Miss Raven lived on a hill in a closet made of egg shells. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Manticore standing there, his hands on his finger. "How nice to see you, Mister Manticore," Miss Raven added, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sighed Mister Manticore. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," sputtered Mister Manticore. I just want to ask you what you think of the canary that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," reasoned Miss Raven. "I didn't know about any canary. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," piped up Mister Manticore defiantly. "I heard that this canary likes to bathe corncobs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Manticore, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hill when we get a lot of canaries bathing corncobs?"

"I can't imagine," tittered Miss Raven.

"What are we going to do about it?" agreed Mister Manticore.

"Appoint a committee?" alleged Miss Raven, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Manticore had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sobbed Miss Raven sympathetically, 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 Manticore gracefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," amended Miss Raven jokingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the windowsill on her front porch, looking out over the hill and going limp. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Manticore. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hollered Mister Manticore brightly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Raven sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied hastily.