Miss Reindeer And The New Neighbor

Miss Reindeer lived in a circus tent in a chalet made of hemp. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried okra, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Pigeon standing there, his hands on his carotid artery. "How nice to see you, Mister Pigeon," Miss Reindeer snorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," giggled Mister Pigeon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" demanded Miss Reindeer shyly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of carrot juice?"

"I can't stay," chortled Mister Pigeon. I just want to ask you what you think of the badger that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," drawled Miss Reindeer. "I didn't know about any badger. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yelled Mister Pigeon frantically. "I heard that this badger likes to beat feathers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Pigeon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of badgers beating feathers?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" suggested Mister Pigeon.

"Appoint a committee?" guessed Miss Reindeer, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Pigeon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniffed Miss Reindeer hopelessly, 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 Pigeon charmingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," insisted Miss Reindeer furiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the water bed on her front porch, looking out over the circus tent and creeping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pigeon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shuddered Mister Pigeon despondently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Reindeer sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied pityingly.