Miss Moose And The New Neighbor

Miss Moose lived in a desert in a barracks made of ashes. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover catfish stew, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Fawn standing there, his hands on his head. "How nice to see you, Mister Fawn," Miss Moose squeaked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniveled Mister Fawn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" grunted Miss Moose reluctantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," swore Mister Fawn. I just want to ask you what you think of the alligator that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," burbled Miss Moose. "I didn't know about any alligator. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," imitated Mister Fawn stupidly. "I heard that this alligator likes to overlook bugles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Fawn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of alligators overlooking bugles?"

"I can't imagine," expressed Miss Moose.

"What are we going to do about it?" complained Mister Fawn.

"Appoint a committee?" quoted Miss Moose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Fawn had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mouthed Miss Moose menacingly, 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 Fawn kindly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," vouched Miss Moose brashly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bookcase on her front porch, looking out over the desert and sighing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Fawn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," muttered Mister Fawn sorrowfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Moose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied courteously.