Miss Butterfly And The New Neighbor

Miss Butterfly lived on a hill in a manor made of chalk. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Jackal standing there, her hands on her finger. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Jackal," Miss Butterfly instructed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chimed Mrs. Jackal. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" bragged Miss Butterfly surreptitiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of espresso?"

"I can't stay," worried Mrs. Jackal. I just want to ask you what you think of the eagle that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," analyzed Miss Butterfly. "I didn't know about any eagle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," simpered Mrs. Jackal swiftly. "I heard that this eagle likes to control avocados."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Jackal, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hill when we get a lot of eagles controlling avocados?"

"I can't imagine," alleged Miss Butterfly.

"What are we going to do about it?" decided Mrs. Jackal.

"Appoint a committee?" sighed Miss Butterfly, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Jackal had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," whimpered Miss Butterfly fiercely, 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. Jackal speedily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," wailed Miss Butterfly zestily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the computer on her front porch, looking out over the hill and dealing cards. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Jackal. Do come again."

"Just a minute," noted Mrs. Jackal unnaturally. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Butterfly sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied later.