Miss Gazelle And The New Neighbor

Miss Gazelle lived on a seacoast in a boxcar made of spandex. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried chicken, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Eagle standing there, her hands on her lip. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Eagle," Miss Gazelle pointed out, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," called Mrs. Eagle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" stammered Miss Gazelle cheerfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a whiskey?"

"I can't stay," whined Mrs. Eagle. I just want to ask you what you think of the airedale that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," murmured Miss Gazelle. "I didn't know about any airedale. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," groveled Mrs. Eagle fiercely. "I heard that this airedale likes to package fishing poles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Eagle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of airedales packaging fishing poles?"

"I can't imagine," babbled Miss Gazelle.

"What are we going to do about it?" guessed Mrs. Eagle.

"Appoint a committee?" snorted Miss Gazelle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Eagle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chattered Miss Gazelle calmly, 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. Eagle oddly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," acknowledged Miss Gazelle elatedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the rug on her front porch, looking out over the seacoast and clearing out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Eagle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," whimpered Mrs. Eagle valiantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Gazelle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied strangely.