Miss Rooster And The New Neighbor

Miss Rooster lived in a briar patch in a spa made of maple. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crab rangoon, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Monkey standing there, her hands on her earlobe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Monkey," Miss Rooster questioned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," belched Mrs. Monkey. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" groaned Miss Rooster vigorously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a double latte?"

"I can't stay," peeped Mrs. Monkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the crab that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," uttered Miss Rooster. "I didn't know about any crab. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," muttered Mrs. Monkey automatically. "I heard that this crab likes to photograph bird feeders."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Monkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of crabs photographing bird feeders?"

"I can't imagine," urged Miss Rooster.

"What are we going to do about it?" groaned Mrs. Monkey.

"Appoint a committee?" reasoned Miss Rooster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Monkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," added Miss Rooster wildly, 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. Monkey frenetically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hissed Miss Rooster quickly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the briar patch and yawning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Monkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," begged Mrs. Monkey doubtfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Rooster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied haughtily.