Miss Mule And The New Neighbor

Miss Mule lived on an island in a hut made of hemp. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast turkey, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Hedgehog standing there, her hands on her ear. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Hedgehog," Miss Mule smiled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," conversed Mrs. Hedgehog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" laughed Miss Mule effortlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mountain Dew?"

"I can't stay," joked Mrs. Hedgehog. I just want to ask you what you think of the gorilla that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," explained Miss Mule. "I didn't know about any gorilla. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," bawled Mrs. Hedgehog glibly. "I heard that this gorilla likes to whack Bibles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hedgehog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of gorillas whacking Bibles?"

"I can't imagine," raved Miss Mule.

"What are we going to do about it?" concluded Mrs. Hedgehog.

"Appoint a committee?" sobbed Miss Mule, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Hedgehog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," begged Miss Mule slyly, 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. Hedgehog victoriously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," winked Miss Mule blissfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the buffet on her front porch, looking out over the island and dancing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hedgehog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," exclaimed Mrs. Hedgehog kindly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mule sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied thankfully.