Miss Llama And The New Neighbor

Miss Llama lived in a pond in a parsonage made of leaves and twigs. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover country glazed ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Crow standing there, her hands on her front tooth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Crow," Miss Llama joked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," worried Mrs. Crow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" raved Miss Llama charmingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Brandy Alexander?"

"I can't stay," yawned Mrs. Crow. I just want to ask you what you think of the cat that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," panted Miss Llama. "I didn't know about any cat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," bellowed Mrs. Crow charmingly. "I heard that this cat likes to forget fingernail clippers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Crow, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of cats forgetting fingernail clippers?"

"I can't imagine," admitted Miss Llama.

"What are we going to do about it?" yowled Mrs. Crow.

"Appoint a committee?" accused Miss Llama, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Crow had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," enunciated Miss Llama confidently, 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. Crow jokingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," questioned Miss Llama trustingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on her front porch, looking out over the pond and doing the Hokey Pokey. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Crow. Do come again."

"Just a minute," provoked Mrs. Crow obediently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Llama sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied oddly.