Miss Raccoon And The New Neighbor

Miss Raccoon lived in a badlands area in a Spanish colonial made of tar. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pie a la mode, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Computer standing there, her hands on her back. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Computer," Miss Raccoon queried, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," voiced Mrs. Computer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sneered Miss Raccoon proudly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," blathered Mrs. Computer. I just want to ask you what you think of the badger that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," crooned Miss Raccoon. "I didn't know about any badger. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," asserted Mrs. Computer steadily. "I heard that this badger likes to box bugles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Computer, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of badgers boxing bugles?"

"I can't imagine," blubbered Miss Raccoon.

"What are we going to do about it?" exclaimed Mrs. Computer.

"Appoint a committee?" declared Miss Raccoon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Computer had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sputtered Miss Raccoon blankly, 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. Computer uselessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," shuddered Miss Raccoon narrowly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the toilet on her front porch, looking out over the badlands area and cheering up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Computer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wailed Mrs. Computer lovingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Raccoon 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 Mister Computer doing these days?"

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

Miss Raccoon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied unnaturally.