Miss Jackal And The New Neighbor

Miss Jackal lived in a backyard in a KOA Kampground made of cast iron. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover moo goo gai pan, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" shouted Miss Jackal warmly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bacardi?"

"I can't stay," affirmed Mrs. Ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the cockroach that's come to the backyard.

"I really don't know," panted Miss Jackal. "I didn't know about any cockroach. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wailed Mrs. Ox nimbly. "I heard that this cockroach likes to boil billiard balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the backyard when we get a lot of cockroaches boiling billiard balls?"

"I can't imagine," reminded Miss Jackal.

"What are we going to do about it?" growled Mrs. Ox.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chattered Miss Jackal demurely, 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. Ox sweetly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," analyzed Miss Jackal innocently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on her front porch, looking out over the backyard and flushing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," rumored Mrs. Ox shyly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Jackal sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gratefully.