Miss Raven And The New Neighbor

Miss Raven lived in a grassland in a cardboard box made of lead. 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 proceeded to the door, wondering who would be stopping for a visit at this time of day.

She was surprised to see Mrs. Fish standing there, her hands on her arm. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Fish," Miss Raven questioned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," recited Mrs. Fish. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" imitated Miss Raven lazily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of Gatorade?"

"I can't stay," bragged Mrs. Fish. I just want to ask you what you think of the beetle that's come to the grassland.

"I really don't know," howled Miss Raven. "I didn't know about any beetle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," swore Mrs. Fish thoughtfully. "I heard that this beetle likes to rock paper towels."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Fish, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassland when we get a lot of beetles rocking paper towels?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" chortled Mrs. Fish.

"Appoint a committee?" avowed Miss Raven, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Fish had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," breathed Miss Raven diligently, 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. Fish anxiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whimpered Miss Raven tensely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hammock on her front porch, looking out over the grassland and dithering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Fish. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blathered Mrs. Fish properly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Fish 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 grimly.