Miss Anteater And The New Neighbor

Miss Anteater lived on a trail in a convent made of cement. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hamburgers, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" continued Miss Anteater offhandedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bud Lite?"

"I can't stay," smiled Mrs. Cockatiel. I just want to ask you what you think of the llama that's come to the trail.

"I really don't know," admitted Miss Anteater. "I didn't know about any llama. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," disputed Mrs. Cockatiel glibly. "I heard that this llama likes to bless statues."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cockatiel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the trail when we get a lot of llamas blessing statues?"

"I can't imagine," proposed Miss Anteater.

"What are we going to do about it?" shouted Mrs. Cockatiel.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," enunciated Miss Anteater 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 Mrs. Cockatiel excitedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," avowed Miss Anteater delicately, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the umbrella stand on her front porch, looking out over the trail and clearing out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cockatiel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squawked Mrs. Cockatiel dubiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Anteater sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied boldly.