Miss Owl And The New Neighbor

Miss Owl lived in a gully in a wikiup made of cast iron. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover omelet, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rumored Miss Owl demurely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Jack Daniel's?"

"I can't stay," rumored Mrs. Caribou. I just want to ask you what you think of the raven that's come to the gully.

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

"Well don't be so sure," vouched Mrs. Caribou dolorously. "I heard that this raven likes to control bedpans."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Caribou, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gully when we get a lot of ravens controlling bedpans?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" cajoled Mrs. Caribou.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," vouched Miss Owl lickety-split, 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. Caribou daringly. "You always have such good ideas."

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

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

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

Mrs. Caribou 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 sweetly.