Miss Sasquatch And The New Neighbor

Miss Sasquatch lived in a circus tent in a housing project made of straw. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover potatoes and gravy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bandicoot standing there, his hands on his fingernail. "How nice to see you, Mister Bandicoot," Miss Sasquatch mused, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," peeped Mister Bandicoot. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" boomed Miss Sasquatch automatically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a painkiller?"

"I can't stay," judged Mister Bandicoot. I just want to ask you what you think of the tarantula that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," spat Miss Sasquatch. "I didn't know about any tarantula. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," invited Mister Bandicoot nervously. "I heard that this tarantula likes to stab antennas."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bandicoot, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of tarantulas stabbing antennas?"

"I can't imagine," sneered Miss Sasquatch.

"What are we going to do about it?" wailed Mister Bandicoot.

"Appoint a committee?" chattered Miss Sasquatch, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bandicoot had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rationalized Miss Sasquatch 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 Bandicoot hopelessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," complained Miss Sasquatch irritably, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the catbird seat on her front porch, looking out over the circus tent and standing by. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bandicoot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sneered Mister Bandicoot gleefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Sasquatch sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied daringly.