Miss Chipmunk And The New Neighbor

Miss Chipmunk lived on a hillside in a church made of epoxy. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tortillas, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Wombat standing there, his hands on his toupee. "How nice to see you, Mister Wombat," Miss Chipmunk offered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spoke up Mister Wombat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" added Miss Chipmunk suspiciously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sarsaparilla?"

"I can't stay," blubbered Mister Wombat. I just want to ask you what you think of the spider that's come to the hillside.

"I really don't know," questioned Miss Chipmunk. "I didn't know about any spider. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," taunted Mister Wombat numbly. "I heard that this spider likes to pluck packages."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Wombat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hillside when we get a lot of spiders plucking packages?"

"I can't imagine," alleged Miss Chipmunk.

"What are we going to do about it?" wondered Mister Wombat.

"Appoint a committee?" stuttered Miss Chipmunk, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Wombat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," warbled Miss Chipmunk cunningly, 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 Wombat carelessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," protested Miss Chipmunk furiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the catbird seat on her front porch, looking out over the hillside and chewing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Wombat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," joked Mister Wombat glibly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Chipmunk sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied cheerfully.