Miss Coyote And The New Neighbor

Miss Coyote lived on a wasteland in a loft made of sand. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover omelet, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Nightingale standing there, her hands on her calf. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Nightingale," Miss Coyote blathered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," smiled Mrs. Nightingale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" clarified Miss Coyote warily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Dr. Pepper?"

"I can't stay," repeated Mrs. Nightingale. I just want to ask you what you think of the yak that's come to the wasteland.

"I really don't know," spewed Miss Coyote. "I didn't know about any yak. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," debated Mrs. Nightingale merrily. "I heard that this yak likes to dust lemons."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Nightingale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the wasteland when we get a lot of yaks dusting lemons?"

"I can't imagine," spouted Miss Coyote.

"What are we going to do about it?" informed Mrs. Nightingale.

"Appoint a committee?" alleged Miss Coyote, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Nightingale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," began Miss Coyote softly, 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. Nightingale lamely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," interrupted Miss Coyote impatiently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on her front porch, looking out over the wasteland and cheering up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Nightingale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," howled Mrs. Nightingale lamely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Coyote 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 Mister Nightingale doing these days?"

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

Miss Coyote sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied diligently.