Miss Lynx And The New Neighbor

Miss Lynx lived on a beach in a houseboat made of beeswax. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover country glazed ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Spider standing there, her hands on her ankle. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Spider," Miss Lynx intimated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," informed Mrs. Spider. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" offered Miss Lynx unabashedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sassafras tea?"

"I can't stay," shuddered Mrs. Spider. I just want to ask you what you think of the kitten that's come to the beach.

"I really don't know," whined Miss Lynx. "I didn't know about any kitten. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," said Mrs. Spider despondently. "I heard that this kitten likes to brandish contracts."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Spider, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the beach when we get a lot of kittens brandishing contracts?"

"I can't imagine," sneered Miss Lynx.

"What are we going to do about it?" burbled Mrs. Spider.

"Appoint a committee?" retorted Miss Lynx, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Spider had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," griped Miss Lynx energetically, 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. Spider sympathetically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," railed Miss Lynx angrily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the display case on her front porch, looking out over the beach and running. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Spider. Do come again."

"Just a minute," swore Mrs. Spider blankly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Lynx sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sarcastically.