Miss Snake And The New Neighbor

Miss Snake lived in a briar patch in a chalet made of granite. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hash, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Bear standing there, her hands on her shoulder. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bear," Miss Snake babbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," offered Mrs. Bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" peeped Miss Snake frenetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mountain Dew?"

"I can't stay," mentioned Mrs. Bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the canary that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," interrupted Miss Snake. "I didn't know about any canary. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," harangued Mrs. Bear suddenly. "I heard that this canary likes to modify ropes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of canaries modifying ropes?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Miss Snake.

"What are we going to do about it?" groveled Mrs. Bear.

"Appoint a committee?" appealed Miss Snake, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bear had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," muttered Miss Snake frenetically, 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. Bear gently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," demanded Miss Snake nonchalantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hope chest on her front porch, looking out over the briar patch and watching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," raved Mrs. Bear daringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Snake sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gently.