Miss Rooster And The New Neighbor

Miss Rooster lived in a marsh in an office made of denim. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dirty rice, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Porcupine standing there, her hands on her appendix. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Porcupine," Miss Rooster pleaded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," imitated Mrs. Porcupine. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cajoled Miss Rooster neatly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," panted Mrs. Porcupine. I just want to ask you what you think of the antelope that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," wondered Miss Rooster. "I didn't know about any antelope. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," raved Mrs. Porcupine suspiciously. "I heard that this antelope likes to slice towels."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Porcupine, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of antelopes slicing towels?"

"I can't imagine," provoked Miss Rooster.

"What are we going to do about it?" cajoled Mrs. Porcupine.

"Appoint a committee?" chimed Miss Rooster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Porcupine had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," raved Miss Rooster confidently, 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. Porcupine neatly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," emphasized Miss Rooster impatiently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the casket on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and exercising. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Porcupine. Do come again."

"Just a minute," purred Mrs. Porcupine kindly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Rooster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied firmly.