Miss Canary And The New Neighbor

Miss Canary lived in a field in a penthouse made of limestone. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Bird standing there, her hands on her foot. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bird," Miss Canary stuttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," emphasized Mrs. Bird. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" declaimed Miss Canary peevishly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cambric tea?"

"I can't stay," peeped Mrs. Bird. I just want to ask you what you think of the Pekingese that's come to the field.

"I really don't know," murmured Miss Canary. "I didn't know about any Pekingese. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," breathed Mrs. Bird stealthily. "I heard that this Pekingese likes to polish computers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bird, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the field when we get a lot of Pekingeses polishing computers?"

"I can't imagine," vowed Miss Canary.

"What are we going to do about it?" retorted Mrs. Bird.

"Appoint a committee?" brought up Miss Canary, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bird had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," interrupted Miss Canary fondly, 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. Bird arrogantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," breathed Miss Canary busily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the water bed on her front porch, looking out over the field and meowing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bird. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fumed Mrs. Bird nicely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Canary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied trustingly.