Miss Yak And The New Neighbor

Miss Yak lived in a neighborhood in a studio made of Formica. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Moose standing there, her hands on her pinky. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Moose," Miss Yak asserted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blubbered Mrs. Moose. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" continued Miss Yak strictly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Manhattan?"

"I can't stay," expressed Mrs. Moose. I just want to ask you what you think of the deer that's come to the neighborhood.

"I really don't know," giggled Miss Yak. "I didn't know about any deer. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wept Mrs. Moose threateningly. "I heard that this deer likes to puncture diagrams."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Moose, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the neighborhood when we get a lot of deer puncturing diagrams?"

"I can't imagine," chortled Miss Yak.

"What are we going to do about it?" jeered Mrs. Moose.

"Appoint a committee?" spoke up Miss Yak, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Moose had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," smirked Miss Yak smoothly, 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. Moose accidentally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," purred Miss Yak cheerfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the water bed on her front porch, looking out over the neighborhood and doodling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Moose. Do come again."

"Just a minute," announced Mrs. Moose fearfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Yak sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied deftly.