Miss Ox And The New Neighbor

Miss Ox lived in a country meadow in a boxcar made of polystyrene. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Eagle standing there, her hands on her larynx. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Eagle," Miss Ox scoffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," lectured Mrs. Eagle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" repeated Miss Ox recklessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom and Jerry?"

"I can't stay," griped Mrs. Eagle. I just want to ask you what you think of the gnu that's come to the country meadow.

"I really don't know," offered Miss Ox. "I didn't know about any gnu. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chanted Mrs. Eagle ferociously. "I heard that this gnu likes to stack brochures."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Eagle, 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 gnus stacking brochures?"

"I can't imagine," blubbered Miss Ox.

"What are we going to do about it?" mouthed Mrs. Eagle.

"Appoint a committee?" interpreted Miss Ox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Eagle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," crooned Miss Ox surreptitiously, 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. Eagle wryly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," invited Miss Ox hopefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the armoire on her front porch, looking out over the country meadow and quivering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Eagle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," quavered Mrs. Eagle timidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ox sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied silently.