Miss Jackal And The New Neighbor

Miss Jackal lived in a village in a closet made of rolled oats. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Pony standing there, her hands on her heel. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Pony," Miss Jackal sniveled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fretted Mrs. Pony. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" revealed Miss Jackal accidentally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Brandy Alexander?"

"I can't stay," bragged Mrs. Pony. I just want to ask you what you think of the gila monster that's come to the village.

"I really don't know," burbled Miss Jackal. "I didn't know about any gila monster. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," thought Mrs. Pony energetically. "I heard that this gila monster likes to sharpen church keys."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Pony, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the village when we get a lot of gila monsters sharpening church keys?"

"I can't imagine," declared Miss Jackal.

"What are we going to do about it?" remarked Mrs. Pony.

"Appoint a committee?" groaned Miss Jackal, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Pony had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," conversed Miss Jackal thoughtfully, 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. Pony nonchalantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," laughed Miss Jackal unabashedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the beanbag chair on her front porch, looking out over the village and spitting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Pony. Do come again."

"Just a minute," vowed Mrs. Pony gruffly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Jackal sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied perkily.