Miss Fox And The New Neighbor

Miss Fox lived in a badlands area in a trough made of roots. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover catfish stew, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Jackal standing there, his hands on his tongue. "How nice to see you, Mister Jackal," Miss Fox proposed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," prattled Mister Jackal. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sniffed Miss Fox effortlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Moscow mule?"

"I can't stay," mumbled Mister Jackal. I just want to ask you what you think of the yeti that's come to the badlands area.

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

"Well don't be so sure," spoke up Mister Jackal madly. "I heard that this yeti likes to touch cans of beer."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Jackal, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of yetis touching cans of beer?"

"I can't imagine," blubbered Miss Fox.

"What are we going to do about it?" commented Mister Jackal.

"Appoint a committee?" harangued Miss Fox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Jackal had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cackled Miss Fox coolly, 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 Jackal courteously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," muttered Miss Fox again, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on her front porch, looking out over the badlands area and chortling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Jackal. Do come again."

"Just a minute," persisted Mister Jackal suspiciously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Fox sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied cruelly.