Miss Colt And The New Neighbor

Miss Colt lived in a buffalo wallow in a housing project made of chicken wire. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crumb cake, when she heard a knock at the door.

She traipsed 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 leg. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Deer," Miss Colt cajoled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," reasoned Mrs. Deer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" realized Miss Colt blindly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a mint julep?"

"I can't stay," fumed Mrs. Deer. I just want to ask you what you think of the turtle that's come to the buffalo wallow.

"I really don't know," whined Miss Colt. "I didn't know about any turtle. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wept Mrs. Deer curiously. "I heard that this turtle likes to maintain protest signs."

"Um, I don't know what to say," growled Miss Colt, 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 buffalo wallow when we get a lot of turtles maintaining protest signs?"

"I can't imagine," spat Miss Colt.

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," grunted Miss Colt briskly, 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 ruefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hinted Miss Colt resignedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on her front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and giggling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Deer. Do come again."

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

Miss Colt thought she had answered, and was beginning to get tall. "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 Colt sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied ruefully.