Miss Magpie And The New Neighbor

Miss Magpie lived in a canyon in a mobile home made of tissue. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover steak, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Pheasant standing there, her hands on her nose. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Pheasant," Miss Magpie squawked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chimed Mrs. Pheasant. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" stammered Miss Magpie unabashedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," grunted Mrs. Pheasant. I just want to ask you what you think of the crow that's come to the canyon.

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

"Well don't be so sure," intoned Mrs. Pheasant oddly. "I heard that this crow likes to leave tablet computers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Pheasant, 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 crows leaving tablet computers?"

"I can't imagine," muttered Miss Magpie.

"What are we going to do about it?" hinted Mrs. Pheasant.

"Appoint a committee?" articulated Miss Magpie, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Pheasant had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," recited Miss Magpie energetically, 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. Pheasant awkwardly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," ranted Miss Magpie irritably, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on her front porch, looking out over the canyon and purring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Pheasant. Do come again."

"Just a minute," announced Mrs. Pheasant ignobly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Magpie sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied blissfully.