Miss Peacock And The New Neighbor

Miss Peacock lived in a housing development in a Victorian mansion made of reeds. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sushi, 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. Jaguar standing there, her hands on her belly. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Jaguar," Miss Peacock uttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," reasoned Mrs. Jaguar. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squealed Miss Peacock hungrily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a rum and Coke?"

"I can't stay," shrieked Mrs. Jaguar. I just want to ask you what you think of the ghost that's come to the housing development.

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

"Well don't be so sure," harangued Mrs. Jaguar strictly. "I heard that this ghost likes to swat kites."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Jaguar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of ghosts swatting kites?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" acknowledged Mrs. Jaguar.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," laughed Miss Peacock narrowly, 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. Jaguar demurely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," recited Miss Peacock silently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ping-pong table on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and itching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Jaguar. Do come again."

"Just a minute," orated Mrs. Jaguar confidently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Jaguar 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 miserably.