Miss Mink And The New Neighbor

Miss Mink lived in a bog in a trough made of glass brick. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dirty rice, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Gerbil standing there, his hands on his arm. "How nice to see you, Mister Gerbil," Miss Mink repeated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," asserted Mister Gerbil. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," conversed Mister Gerbil. I just want to ask you what you think of the eagle that's come to the bog.

"I really don't know," mentioned Miss Mink. "I didn't know about any eagle. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," guessed Mister Gerbil anxiously. "I heard that this eagle likes to handle primroses."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gerbil, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the bog when we get a lot of eagles handling primroses?"

"I can't imagine," quoted Miss Mink.

"What are we going to do about it?" mentioned Mister Gerbil.

"Appoint a committee?" simpered Miss Mink, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gerbil had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," crooned Miss Mink unnaturally, 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 Gerbil strictly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," roared Miss Mink sarcastically, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bench on her front porch, looking out over the bog and getting away. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gerbil. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chattered Mister Gerbil carelessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Mink 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 Mrs. Gerbil doing these days?"

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

Miss Mink sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied innocently.