Miss Musk-ox And The New Neighbor

Miss Musk-ox lived in a briar patch in a cave made of silk. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover applesauce, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Falcon standing there, his hands on his lung. "How nice to see you, Mister Falcon," Miss Musk-ox begged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," rambled Mister Falcon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spat Miss Musk-ox sorrowfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tonic?"

"I can't stay," rambled Mister Falcon. I just want to ask you what you think of the ass that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," blurted Miss Musk-ox. "I didn't know about any ass. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," observed Mister Falcon flightily. "I heard that this ass likes to unwrap teddy bears."

"Um, I don't know what to say," spewed Miss Musk-ox, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Falcon, 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 asses unwrapping teddy bears?"

"I can't imagine," contended Miss Musk-ox.

"What are we going to do about it?" intimated Mister Falcon.

"Appoint a committee?" answered Miss Musk-ox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Falcon had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Falcon ignobly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," spoke up Miss Musk-ox carefully, 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 Mister Falcon nicely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sighed Miss Musk-ox joyously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on her front porch, looking out over the briar patch and wiggling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Falcon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chuckled Mister Falcon brashly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Musk-ox thought she had answered, and was beginning to get careful. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Falcon doing these days?"

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

Miss Musk-ox sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied madly.