Miss Fish And The New Neighbor

Miss Fish lived in an arroyo in a hut made of corncobs. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover catfish stew, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Elk standing there, his hands on his thumb. "How nice to see you, Mister Elk," Miss Fish bragged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniffed Mister Elk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" stammered Miss Fish fervently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?"

"I can't stay," warbled Mister Elk. I just want to ask you what you think of the crow that's come to the arroyo.

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

"Well don't be so sure," rationalized Mister Elk happily. "I heard that this crow likes to rock primroses."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Elk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of crows rocking primroses?"

"I can't imagine," indicated Miss Fish.

"What are we going to do about it?" whispered Mister Elk.

"Appoint a committee?" smirked Miss Fish, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Elk had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Elk violently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," reasoned Miss Fish effortlessly, 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 Elk boisterously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," quoted Miss Fish briskly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hamper on her front porch, looking out over the arroyo and adjusting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Elk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," debated Mister Elk steadily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Fish sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied speedily.