Miss Eagle And The New Neighbor

Miss Eagle lived on a veld in a condominium made of tar. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover catfish stew, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Elk standing there, her hands on her knuckle. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Elk," Miss Eagle professed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," thought Mrs. Elk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" tittered Miss Eagle delicately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a kamikaze?"

"I can't stay," mouthed Mrs. Elk. I just want to ask you what you think of the bumblebee that's come to the veld.

"I really don't know," instructed Miss Eagle. "I didn't know about any bumblebee. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sighed Mrs. Elk numbly. "I heard that this bumblebee likes to observe tops."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Elk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the veld when we get a lot of bumblebees observing tops?"

"I can't imagine," burbled Miss Eagle.

"What are we going to do about it?" added Mrs. Elk.

"Appoint a committee?" agreed Miss Eagle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Elk had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Elk vigorously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," remarked Miss Eagle crankily, 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 Mrs. Elk impatiently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," inquired Miss Eagle silently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on her front porch, looking out over the veld and growling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Elk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shuddered Mrs. Elk coldly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Eagle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied nonchalantly.