Miss Puma And The New Neighbor

Miss Puma lived in a neighborhood in a houseboat made of tempered steel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover bonbons, 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. Wombat standing there, her hands on her eyeball. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Wombat," Miss Puma affirmed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yelled Mrs. Wombat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" comforted Miss Puma repeatedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a V8?"

"I can't stay," burbled Mrs. Wombat. I just want to ask you what you think of the unicorn that's come to the neighborhood.

"I really don't know," lectured Miss Puma. "I didn't know about any unicorn. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hissed Mrs. Wombat uselessly. "I heard that this unicorn likes to tickle Rubik's cubes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Wombat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the neighborhood when we get a lot of unicorns tickling Rubik's cubes?"

"I can't imagine," fumed Miss Puma.

"What are we going to do about it?" chattered Mrs. Wombat.

"Appoint a committee?" uttered Miss Puma, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Wombat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shouted Miss Puma cheerfully, 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. Wombat wryly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," spat Miss Puma pitifully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the piano on her front porch, looking out over the neighborhood and typing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Wombat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," articulated Mrs. Wombat wearily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Puma sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied tearfully.