Miss Raven And The New Neighbor

Miss Raven lived in a backyard in a crypt made of sod. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Ghost standing there, his hands on his hair. "How nice to see you, Mister Ghost," Miss Raven murmured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pointed out Mister Ghost. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spoke up Miss Raven joyously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," piped up Mister Ghost. I just want to ask you what you think of the aardvark that's come to the backyard.

"I really don't know," protested Miss Raven. "I didn't know about any aardvark. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," pronounced Mister Ghost dolefully. "I heard that this aardvark likes to propel china dolls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ghost, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the backyard when we get a lot of aardvarks propelling china dolls?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" chattered Mister Ghost.

"Appoint a committee?" mouthed Miss Raven, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ghost had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," asked Miss Raven narrowly, 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 Ghost dolefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," admitted Miss Raven lovingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the card table on her front porch, looking out over the backyard and frowning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ghost. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chattered Mister Ghost trustingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Raven sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sagely.