Miss Owl And The New Neighbor

Miss Owl lived on a mountain in a convent made of limestone. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mushroom quiche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Gecko standing there, her hands on her cheek. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Gecko," Miss Owl yelled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniveled Mrs. Gecko. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" comforted Miss Owl silently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Manhattan?"

"I can't stay," rationalized Mrs. Gecko. I just want to ask you what you think of the panda that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," raved Miss Owl. "I didn't know about any panda. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," griped Mrs. Gecko neatly. "I heard that this panda likes to cut toilet plungers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Gecko, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of pandas cutting toilet plungers?"

"I can't imagine," articulated Miss Owl.

"What are we going to do about it?" appealed Mrs. Gecko.

"Appoint a committee?" chimed Miss Owl, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Gecko had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hinted Miss Owl effortlessly, 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. Gecko firmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," maintained Miss Owl urgently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the wardrobe on her front porch, looking out over the mountain and swallowing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Gecko. Do come again."

"Just a minute," retorted Mrs. Gecko sorrowfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Owl sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied nervously.