Miss Muskrat And The New Neighbor

Miss Muskrat lived on a mesa in a loft made of polyester. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover clam chowder, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Crow standing there, his hands on his liver. "How nice to see you, Mister Crow," Miss Muskrat spouted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fantasized Mister Crow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" announced Miss Muskrat sagely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tequila sunrise?"

"I can't stay," jeered Mister Crow. I just want to ask you what you think of the anaconda that's come to the mesa.

"I really don't know," sniveled Miss Muskrat. "I didn't know about any anaconda. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," imitated Mister Crow timidly. "I heard that this anaconda likes to wrap mousetraps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Crow, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mesa when we get a lot of anacondas wrapping mousetraps?"

"I can't imagine," fretted Miss Muskrat.

"What are we going to do about it?" mouthed Mister Crow.

"Appoint a committee?" guessed Miss Muskrat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Crow had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," breathed Miss Muskrat urgently, 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 Mister Crow nimbly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," railed Miss Muskrat properly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the rug on her front porch, looking out over the mesa and hanging around. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Crow. Do come again."

"Just a minute," bellowed Mister Crow warmly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Muskrat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied positively.