Miss Garter Snake And The New Neighbor

Miss Garter snake lived on a cliff in a palace made of snow. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hamburgers, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Giraffe standing there, his hands on his kidney. "How nice to see you, Mister Giraffe," Miss Garter snake protested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," harangued Mister Giraffe. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" offered Miss Garter snake dubiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cambric tea?"

"I can't stay," vouched Mister Giraffe. I just want to ask you what you think of the parrot that's come to the cliff.

"I really don't know," grunted Miss Garter snake. "I didn't know about any parrot. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yowled Mister Giraffe perkily. "I heard that this parrot likes to protect pencils."

"Um, I don't know what to say," wept Miss Garter snake, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Giraffe, 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 parrots protecting pencils?"

"I can't imagine," spouted Miss Garter snake.

"What are we going to do about it?" griped Mister Giraffe.

"Appoint a committee?" responded Miss Garter snake, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Giraffe had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blubbered Miss Garter snake uselessly, 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 Giraffe confidently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," recited Miss Garter snake lazily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the windowsill on her front porch, looking out over the cliff and snoring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Giraffe. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yowled Mister Giraffe awkwardly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Garter snake sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied slyly.