Miss German Shepherd And The New Neighbor

Miss German Shepherd lived on a ridge in a resort made of balsa. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover blueberry pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Nightingale standing there, his hands on his hand. "How nice to see you, Mister Nightingale," Miss German Shepherd announced, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whispered Mister Nightingale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" contended Miss German Shepherd excitedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," informed Mister Nightingale. I just want to ask you what you think of the mustang that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," avowed Miss German Shepherd. "I didn't know about any mustang. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rambled Mister Nightingale boisterously. "I heard that this mustang likes to propel vacuum cleaners."

"Um, I don't know what to say," agreed Miss German Shepherd, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Nightingale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of mustangs propelling vacuum cleaners?"

"I can't imagine," began Miss German Shepherd.

"What are we going to do about it?" emphasized Mister Nightingale.

"Appoint a committee?" analyzed Miss German Shepherd, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Nightingale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," murmured Miss German Shepherd automatically, 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 Nightingale hopelessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," wondered Miss German Shepherd excitedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the computer on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and playing Duck Duck Goose. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Nightingale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," protested Mister Nightingale proudly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss German Shepherd sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sorrowfully.