Miss Peacock And The New Neighbor

Miss Peacock lived on a moonscape in a skyscraper made of wattle and daub. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cookies, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Horsie standing there, her hands on her elbow. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Horsie," Miss Peacock shrieked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," reminded Mrs. Horsie. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," cackled Mrs. Horsie. I just want to ask you what you think of the horse that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," nattered Miss Peacock. "I didn't know about any horse. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," raved Mrs. Horsie furiously. "I heard that this horse likes to flatten cigarettes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Horsie, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of horses flattening cigarettes?"

"I can't imagine," cackled Miss Peacock.

"What are we going to do about it?" babbled Mrs. Horsie.

"Appoint a committee?" indicated Miss Peacock, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Horsie had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rebutted Miss Peacock gleefully, 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. Horsie elatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," recited Miss Peacock blankly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hope chest on her front porch, looking out over the moonscape and giggling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Horsie. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cried Mrs. Horsie valiantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Peacock sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied cunningly.