Miss Pony And The New Neighbor

Miss Pony lived in a pond in a manor made of noodles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Cheerios, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Finch standing there, his hands on his ear. "How nice to see you, Mister Finch," Miss Pony groaned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," jeered Mister Finch. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yelled Miss Pony miserably, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin sour?"

"I can't stay," debated Mister Finch. I just want to ask you what you think of the kangaroo that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," suggested Miss Pony. "I didn't know about any kangaroo. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blathered Mister Finch shakily. "I heard that this kangaroo likes to cook rags."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Finch, 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 kangaroos cooking rags?"

"I can't imagine," cackled Miss Pony.

"What are we going to do about it?" purred Mister Finch.

"Appoint a committee?" chortled Miss Pony, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Finch had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sputtered Miss Pony carefully, 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 Finch obediently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," phrased Miss Pony lovingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bookshelf on her front porch, looking out over the pond and fainting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Finch. Do come again."

"Just a minute," declared Mister Finch perkily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Pony sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied truculently.