Miss Pheasant And The New Neighbor

Miss Pheasant lived in a glen in a loft made of mud. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fish and chips, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bear standing there, his hands on his kneecap. "How nice to see you, Mister Bear," Miss Pheasant instructed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," affirmed Mister Bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" trumpeted Miss Pheasant patiently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gimlet?"

"I can't stay," barked Mister Bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the yeti that's come to the glen.

"I really don't know," uttered Miss Pheasant. "I didn't know about any yeti. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," snarled Mister Bear gracefully. "I heard that this yeti likes to kiss handkerchiefs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the glen when we get a lot of yetis kissing handkerchiefs?"

"I can't imagine," nattered Miss Pheasant.

"What are we going to do about it?" spat Mister Bear.

"Appoint a committee?" crooned Miss Pheasant, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bear had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," babbled Miss Pheasant testily, 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 Bear violently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," asked Miss Pheasant glibly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the file cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the glen and wiggling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," whined Mister Bear languidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Pheasant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied happily.