Miss Camel And The New Neighbor

Miss Camel lived in a rainforest in a hovel made of adobe. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cookies, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Monster standing there, her hands on her stomach. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Monster," Miss Camel rumored, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," clarified Mrs. Monster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" indicated Miss Camel viciously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Coke?"

"I can't stay," proposed Mrs. Monster. I just want to ask you what you think of the mouse that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," muttered Miss Camel. "I didn't know about any mouse. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," jeered Mrs. Monster grudgingly. "I heard that this mouse likes to rebuild paintbrushes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Monster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of mice rebuilding paintbrushes?"

"I can't imagine," reasoned Miss Camel.

"What are we going to do about it?" invited Mrs. Monster.

"Appoint a committee?" panted Miss Camel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Monster had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," emphasized Miss Camel admiringly, 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. Monster merrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," agreed Miss Camel testily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on her front porch, looking out over the rainforest and throwing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Monster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squeaked Mrs. Monster noisily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Camel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied shyly.