Miss Worm And The New Neighbor

Miss Worm lived beside a creek in a yurt made of titanium. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Gerbil standing there, his hands on his throat. "How nice to see you, Mister Gerbil," Miss Worm comforted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," affirmed Mister Gerbil. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" announced Miss Worm reluctantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer float?"

"I can't stay," hollered Mister Gerbil. I just want to ask you what you think of the jellyfish that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," blurted Miss Worm. "I didn't know about any jellyfish. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," taunted Mister Gerbil irritably. "I heard that this jellyfish likes to manage arrowheads."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gerbil, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the creek when we get a lot of jellyfish managing arrowheads?"

"I can't imagine," exclaimed Miss Worm.

"What are we going to do about it?" analyzed Mister Gerbil.

"Appoint a committee?" sniffed Miss Worm, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gerbil had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stated Miss Worm numbly, 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 Gerbil calmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," growled Miss Worm dubiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the counter on her front porch, looking out over the creek and scratching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gerbil. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blustered Mister Gerbil queerly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Worm sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sorrowfully.