Miss Magpie And The New Neighbor

Miss Magpie lived in a pond in a houseboat made of old newspapers. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover scrambled eggs, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Deer standing there, her hands on her heart. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Deer," Miss Magpie stammered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," responded Mrs. Deer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" called Miss Magpie wildly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cosmopolitan?"

"I can't stay," chortled Mrs. Deer. I just want to ask you what you think of the panther that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," sniped Miss Magpie. "I didn't know about any panther. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," enunciated Mrs. Deer jokingly. "I heard that this panther likes to rearrange pens."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Deer, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of panthers rearranging pens?"

"I can't imagine," recited Miss Magpie.

"What are we going to do about it?" hummed Mrs. Deer.

"Appoint a committee?" bragged Miss Magpie, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Deer had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," repeated Miss Magpie sheepishly, 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. Deer haughtily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blubbered Miss Magpie zestily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the fainting couch on her front porch, looking out over the pond and creeping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Deer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniveled Mrs. Deer fiercely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Magpie sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied patiently.