Miss Swan And The New Neighbor

Miss Swan lived in a housing development in a subway tunnel made of seaweed. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pizza, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Beaver standing there, her hands on her little finger. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Beaver," Miss Swan spat, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," persisted Mrs. Beaver. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reacted Miss Swan admiringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Harvey Wallbanger?"

"I can't stay," blubbered Mrs. Beaver. I just want to ask you what you think of the yeti that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," enunciated Miss Swan. "I didn't know about any yeti. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," breathed Mrs. Beaver trustingly. "I heard that this yeti likes to shred protest signs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Beaver, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of yetis shredding protest signs?"

"I can't imagine," asserted Miss Swan.

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

"Appoint a committee?" mentioned Miss Swan, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Beaver had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," realized Miss Swan quickly, 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. Beaver gleefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," brought up Miss Swan fervently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the catbird seat on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and adjusting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Beaver. Do come again."

"Just a minute," questioned Mrs. Beaver craftily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Swan sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied cunningly.