Miss Weasel And The New Neighbor

Miss Weasel lived in a rainforest in a duplex made of rammed earth. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover applesauce, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Musk-ox standing there, his hands on his toupee. "How nice to see you, Mister Musk-ox," Miss Weasel avowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," brought up Mister Musk-ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spat Miss Weasel admiringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," imitated Mister Musk-ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the monster that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," yammered Miss Weasel. "I didn't know about any monster. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," howled Mister Musk-ox awkwardly. "I heard that this monster likes to darken pigeons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Musk-ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of monsters darkening pigeons?"

"I can't imagine," yowled Miss Weasel.

"What are we going to do about it?" tittered Mister Musk-ox.

"Appoint a committee?" quoted Miss Weasel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Musk-ox had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Musk-ox speedily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," debated Miss Weasel sweetly, 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 Musk-ox boldly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fumed Miss Weasel automatically, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on her front porch, looking out over the rainforest and wandering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Musk-ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," guessed Mister Musk-ox lovingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Weasel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied busily.