Miss Puppy And The New Neighbor

Miss Puppy lived on a cliff in a brownstone made of seaweed. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Butterfly standing there, his hands on his pride. "How nice to see you, Mister Butterfly," Miss Puppy decided, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shrieked Mister Butterfly. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spouted Miss Puppy coldly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of champagne?"

"I can't stay," protested Mister Butterfly. I just want to ask you what you think of the computer that's come to the cliff.

"I really don't know," begged Miss Puppy. "I didn't know about any computer. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," babbled Mister Butterfly suddenly. "I heard that this computer likes to analyze Egyptian mummies."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Butterfly, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cliff when we get a lot of computers analyzing Egyptian mummies?"

"I can't imagine," squealed Miss Puppy.

"What are we going to do about it?" rationalized Mister Butterfly.

"Appoint a committee?" yelped Miss Puppy, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Butterfly had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Butterfly hungrily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," prattled Miss Puppy sagely, 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 Mister Butterfly lamely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," clarified Miss Puppy merrily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the settee on her front porch, looking out over the cliff and talking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Butterfly. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blurted Mister Butterfly cleverly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Puppy sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied narrowly.