Miss Monster And The New Neighbor

Miss Monster lived on a prairie in a barracks made of clay. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover corn on the cob, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Lynx standing there, her hands on her collarbone. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Lynx," Miss Monster amended, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pronounced Mrs. Lynx. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yelled Miss Monster blankly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of Sanka?"

"I can't stay," urged Mrs. Lynx. I just want to ask you what you think of the pony that's come to the prairie.

"I really don't know," bawled Miss Monster. "I didn't know about any pony. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sneered Mrs. Lynx ferociously. "I heard that this pony likes to scratch dollhouses."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Lynx, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the prairie when we get a lot of ponies scratching dollhouses?"

"I can't imagine," bragged Miss Monster.

"What are we going to do about it?" whimpered Mrs. Lynx.

"Appoint a committee?" realized Miss Monster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Lynx had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," panted Miss Monster gingerly, 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. Lynx strictly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," muttered Miss Monster gruffly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the settee on her front porch, looking out over the prairie and looking angry. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Lynx. Do come again."

"Just a minute," snorted Mrs. Lynx needlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Monster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied boldly.