Miss Crow And The New Neighbor

Miss Crow lived in a garden in a crypt made of gold. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tuna casserole, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Duck standing there, her hands on her thigh. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Duck," Miss Crow yawned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," amended Mrs. Duck. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," stated Mrs. Duck. I just want to ask you what you think of the chicken that's come to the garden.

"I really don't know," agreed Miss Crow. "I didn't know about any chicken. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," revealed Mrs. Duck strangely. "I heard that this chicken likes to control pain pills."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Duck, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the garden when we get a lot of chickens controlling pain pills?"

"I can't imagine," squeaked Miss Crow.

"What are we going to do about it?" shuddered Mrs. Duck.

"Appoint a committee?" nattered Miss Crow, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Duck had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," whined Miss Crow crossly, 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. Duck sternly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," roared Miss Crow fiercely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the garden and panting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Duck. Do come again."

"Just a minute," judged Mrs. Duck carefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Crow sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied stealthily.