Miss Owl And The New Neighbor

Miss Owl lived on a peninsula in an apartment made of Sheetrock. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover doughnuts, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Fawn standing there, his hands on his midriff. "How nice to see you, Mister Fawn," Miss Owl chanted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," screamed Mister Fawn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" said Miss Owl sternly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Moscow mule?"

"I can't stay," hinted Mister Fawn. I just want to ask you what you think of the Norway rat that's come to the peninsula.

"I really don't know," mused Miss Owl. "I didn't know about any Norway rat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," protested Mister Fawn sarcastically. "I heard that this Norway rat likes to re-evaluate spittoons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Fawn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the peninsula when we get a lot of Norway rats re-evaluating spittoons?"

"I can't imagine," questioned Miss Owl.

"What are we going to do about it?" yelped Mister Fawn.

"Appoint a committee?" winked Miss Owl, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Fawn had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," provoked Miss Owl fervently, 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 Fawn perkily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," stammered Miss Owl hopefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on her front porch, looking out over the peninsula and staring into space. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Fawn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," urged Mister Fawn furiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Owl sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied courageously.