Miss Lynx And The New Neighbor

Miss Lynx lived in a marsh in a barracks made of plutonium. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ramen noodles, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Ostrich standing there, his hands on his nose. "How nice to see you, Mister Ostrich," Miss Lynx comforted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whined Mister Ostrich. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" explained Miss Lynx narrowly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an iced tea?"

"I can't stay," maintained Mister Ostrich. I just want to ask you what you think of the swan that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," raved Miss Lynx. "I didn't know about any swan. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," conversed Mister Ostrich immediately. "I heard that this swan likes to prepare packages."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ostrich, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of swans preparing packages?"

"I can't imagine," announced Miss Lynx.

"What are we going to do about it?" scoffed Mister Ostrich.

"Appoint a committee?" squealed Miss Lynx, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ostrich had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," squeaked Miss Lynx curiously, 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 Ostrich gleefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," noted Miss Lynx lovingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the chair on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and murmuring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ostrich. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mentioned Mister Ostrich ruefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Lynx sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied crankily.