Miss Elephant And The New Neighbor

Miss Elephant lived on a range in a spa made of candy. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Anteater standing there, her hands on her waist. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Anteater," Miss Elephant drawled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," agreed Mrs. Anteater. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" added Miss Elephant fearlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sassafras tea?"

"I can't stay," boasted Mrs. Anteater. I just want to ask you what you think of the macaque that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," proposed Miss Elephant. "I didn't know about any macaque. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," raved Mrs. Anteater rapidly. "I heard that this macaque likes to melt compasses."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Anteater, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of macaques melting compasses?"

"I can't imagine," appealed Miss Elephant.

"What are we going to do about it?" nattered Mrs. Anteater.

"Appoint a committee?" shrieked Miss Elephant, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Anteater had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," provoked Miss Elephant ingeniously, 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. Anteater cautiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," persisted Miss Elephant positively, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on her front porch, looking out over the range and relaxing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Anteater. Do come again."

"Just a minute," exploded Mrs. Anteater ferociously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Elephant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied grimly.