Miss Computer And The New Neighbor

Miss Computer lived in a gulch in a log cabin made of cornhusks. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mashed potatoes, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Airedale standing there, his hands on his hip. "How nice to see you, Mister Airedale," Miss Computer sighed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," phrased Mister Airedale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chanted Miss Computer lamely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an old fashioned?"

"I can't stay," professed Mister Airedale. I just want to ask you what you think of the chimpanzee that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," wondered Miss Computer. "I didn't know about any chimpanzee. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," prattled Mister Airedale breathlessly. "I heard that this chimpanzee likes to drag flyswatters."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Airedale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of chimpanzees dragging flyswatters?"

"I can't imagine," squeaked Miss Computer.

"What are we going to do about it?" snorted Mister Airedale.

"Appoint a committee?" conversed Miss Computer, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Airedale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," purred Miss Computer nervously, 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 Airedale trustingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reasoned Miss Computer gracefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the water bed on her front porch, looking out over the gulch and squinting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Airedale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," peeped Mister Airedale wearily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Computer sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied woodenly.