Miss Turkey And The New Neighbor

Miss Turkey lived in a buffalo wallow in a Victorian mansion made of rammed earth. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover strawberry shortcake, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Penguin standing there, her hands on her hangnail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Penguin," Miss Turkey lamented, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spoke up Mrs. Penguin. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" piped up Miss Turkey uselessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tonic?"

"I can't stay," whined Mrs. Penguin. I just want to ask you what you think of the crow that's come to the buffalo wallow.

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

"Well don't be so sure," mused Mrs. Penguin crossly. "I heard that this crow likes to label stuffed kittens."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Penguin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the buffalo wallow when we get a lot of crows labeling stuffed kittens?"

"I can't imagine," exclaimed Miss Turkey.

"What are we going to do about it?" persisted Mrs. Penguin.

"Appoint a committee?" preached Miss Turkey, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Penguin had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," murmured Miss Turkey blankly, 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. Penguin daintily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," pointed out Miss Turkey quietly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on her front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and sleeping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Penguin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," admitted Mrs. Penguin curiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Turkey sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied hungrily.