Miss Airedale And The New Neighbor

Miss Airedale lived on a hill in a homeless shelter made of logs. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni and cheese, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Cockroach standing there, her hands on her vein. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cockroach," Miss Airedale mused, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," persisted Mrs. Cockroach. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" exploded Miss Airedale defiantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," declaimed Mrs. Cockroach. I just want to ask you what you think of the llama that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," bragged Miss Airedale. "I didn't know about any llama. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," quoted Mrs. Cockroach diligently. "I heard that this llama likes to pat plaques."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cockroach, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hill when we get a lot of llamas patting plaques?"

"I can't imagine," groveled Miss Airedale.

"What are we going to do about it?" howled Mrs. Cockroach.

"Appoint a committee?" recited Miss Airedale, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cockroach had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," fantasized Miss Airedale uselessly, 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. Cockroach fearfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," interrupted Miss Airedale quietly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the hill and snickering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cockroach. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mentioned Mrs. Cockroach awkwardly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Airedale sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied menacingly.