Miss Pigeon And The New Neighbor

Miss Pigeon lived on a seacoast in a geodesic dome made of plutonium. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Reindeer standing there, his hands on his eyelash. "How nice to see you, Mister Reindeer," Miss Pigeon rebutted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," imitated Mister Reindeer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blubbered Miss Pigeon openly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," ranted Mister Reindeer. I just want to ask you what you think of the parakeet that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," purred Miss Pigeon. "I didn't know about any parakeet. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," invited Mister Reindeer briskly. "I heard that this parakeet likes to shorten mops."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Reindeer, 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 parakeets shortening mops?"

"I can't imagine," maintained Miss Pigeon.

"What are we going to do about it?" noted Mister Reindeer.

"Appoint a committee?" inquired Miss Pigeon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Reindeer had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," wept Miss Pigeon strictly, 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 Reindeer gruffly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," warbled Miss Pigeon stupidly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on her front porch, looking out over the seacoast and flushing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Reindeer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," howled Mister Reindeer courteously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Pigeon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied impatiently.