Miss Finch And The New Neighbor

Miss Finch lived in a canyon in a sand castle made of linen. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Bear standing there, her hands on her dignity. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bear," Miss Finch sneered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," bawled Mrs. Bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" bawled Miss Finch victoriously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," sighed Mrs. Bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the horsie that's come to the canyon.

"I really don't know," stormed Miss Finch. "I didn't know about any horsie. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," repeated Mrs. Bear properly. "I heard that this horsie likes to extinguish urns."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the canyon when we get a lot of horsies extinguishing urns?"

"I can't imagine," chattered Miss Finch.

"What are we going to do about it?" continued Mrs. Bear.

"Appoint a committee?" whispered Miss Finch, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bear had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," acknowledged Miss Finch doubtfully, 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. Bear tensely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," barked Miss Finch shakily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the filing cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the canyon and standing by. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intoned Mrs. Bear irritably. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Finch sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied blankly.