Miss Airedale And The New Neighbor

Miss Airedale lived on a plain in a dugout made of bones. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, 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. Android standing there, her hands on her piehole. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Android," Miss Airedale crooned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," croaked Mrs. Android. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" screeched Miss Airedale tensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an iced tea?"

"I can't stay," raved Mrs. Android. I just want to ask you what you think of the baboon that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," persisted Miss Airedale. "I didn't know about any baboon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blathered Mrs. Android arrogantly. "I heard that this baboon likes to grapple cameras."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Android, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of baboons grappling cameras?"

"I can't imagine," spoke up Miss Airedale.

"What are we going to do about it?" whispered Mrs. Android.

"Appoint a committee?" whispered Miss Airedale, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Android had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," complained Miss Airedale cleverly, 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. Android obediently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," belched Miss Airedale awkwardly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the beanbag chair on her front porch, looking out over the plain and buzzing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Android. Do come again."

"Just a minute," complained Mrs. Android dreamily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Airedale sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gracefully.