Miss Pheasant And The New Neighbor

Miss Pheasant lived in a park in a trough made of tar. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Meerkat standing there, his hands on his lip. "How nice to see you, Mister Meerkat," Miss Pheasant avowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," clarified Mister Meerkat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blustered Miss Pheasant strangely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mojito?"

"I can't stay," realized Mister Meerkat. I just want to ask you what you think of the pig that's come to the park.

"I really don't know," fantasized Miss Pheasant. "I didn't know about any pig. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," retorted Mister Meerkat lazily. "I heard that this pig likes to praise pails."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Meerkat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the park when we get a lot of pigs praising pails?"

"I can't imagine," queried Miss Pheasant.

"What are we going to do about it?" reacted Mister Meerkat.

"Appoint a committee?" moaned Miss Pheasant, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Meerkat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yelped Miss Pheasant cruelly, 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 Meerkat breathlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," begged Miss Pheasant thoughtfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on her front porch, looking out over the park and moaning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Meerkat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," explained Mister Meerkat positively. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Pheasant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied warmly.