Miss Raccoon And The New Neighbor

Miss Raccoon lived in a country meadow in a chateau made of blocks of ice. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover spaghetti, 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 Mrs. Boar standing there, her hands on her eyelid. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Boar," Miss Raccoon hinted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," vowed Mrs. Boar. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" winked Miss Raccoon rapidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot cider?"

"I can't stay," conversed Mrs. Boar. I just want to ask you what you think of the sheep that's come to the country meadow.

"I really don't know," worried Miss Raccoon. "I didn't know about any sheep. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," accused Mrs. Boar needlessly. "I heard that this sheep likes to pick Bunsen burners."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Boar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the country meadow when we get a lot of sheep picking Bunsen burners?"

"I can't imagine," urged Miss Raccoon.

"What are we going to do about it?" snarled Mrs. Boar.

"Appoint a committee?" screeched Miss Raccoon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Boar had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stated Miss Raccoon miserably, 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. Boar fervently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fumed Miss Raccoon humbly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the counter on her front porch, looking out over the country meadow and running away. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Boar. Do come again."

"Just a minute," maintained Mrs. Boar cleverly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Raccoon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied resignedly.