Miss Shark And The New Neighbor

Miss Shark lived in a gully in an A-frame made of deer hide. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Peacock standing there, his hands on his palm. "How nice to see you, Mister Peacock," Miss Shark shrieked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," muttered Mister Peacock. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" suggested Miss Shark effortlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," hollered Mister Peacock. I just want to ask you what you think of the dodo bird that's come to the gully.

"I really don't know," whined Miss Shark. "I didn't know about any dodo bird. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," whimpered Mister Peacock bravely. "I heard that this dodo bird likes to study file folders."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Peacock, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gully when we get a lot of dodo birds studying file folders?"

"I can't imagine," explained Miss Shark.

"What are we going to do about it?" phrased Mister Peacock.

"Appoint a committee?" concluded Miss Shark, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Peacock had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spat Miss Shark languidly, 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 Peacock craftily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rambled Miss Shark dolefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the credenza on her front porch, looking out over the gully and twitching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Peacock. Do come again."

"Just a minute," warbled Mister Peacock valiantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Shark sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied obediently.