Miss Jackal And The New Neighbor

Miss Jackal lived in a bog in a chapel made of lithium. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast Cornish game hen, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Fawn standing there, her hands on her brain. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Fawn," Miss Jackal invited, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," conversed Mrs. Fawn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" simpered Miss Jackal solemnly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," whispered Mrs. Fawn. I just want to ask you what you think of the cobra that's come to the bog.

"I really don't know," observed Miss Jackal. "I didn't know about any cobra. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," grieved Mrs. Fawn perkily. "I heard that this cobra likes to study crystal balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Fawn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the bog when we get a lot of cobras studying crystal balls?"

"I can't imagine," raved Miss Jackal.

"What are we going to do about it?" blustered Mrs. Fawn.

"Appoint a committee?" sobbed Miss Jackal, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Fawn had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," revealed Miss Jackal confidently, 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. Fawn calmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," insisted Miss Jackal lickety-split, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the coat rack on her front porch, looking out over the bog and chuckling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Fawn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stormed Mrs. Fawn anxiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Jackal sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied excitedly.