Miss Skunk And The New Neighbor

Miss Skunk lived on a moonscape in a skyscraper made of bones. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cornbread, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Cobra standing there, her hands on her chest. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cobra," Miss Skunk alleged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shouted Mrs. Cobra. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chanted Miss Skunk thoughtfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an old fashioned?"

"I can't stay," requested Mrs. Cobra. I just want to ask you what you think of the cow that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," shuddered Miss Skunk. "I didn't know about any cow. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," lectured Mrs. Cobra hopefully. "I heard that this cow likes to admire paperweights."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cobra, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of cows admiring paperweights?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" phrased Mrs. Cobra.

"Appoint a committee?" groveled Miss Skunk, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cobra had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," quavered Miss Skunk fearfully, 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. Cobra frantically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," simpered Miss Skunk lovingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the fainting couch on her front porch, looking out over the moonscape and sweating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cobra. Do come again."

"Just a minute," uttered Mrs. Cobra offhandedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Skunk sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied immediately.