Miss Goat And The New Neighbor

Miss Goat lived in a swamp in a closet made of diamonds. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover moo goo gai pan, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Crow standing there, his hands on his fingernail. "How nice to see you, Mister Crow," Miss Goat squealed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," accused Mister Crow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" barked Miss Goat craftily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Seven and Seven?"

"I can't stay," chortled Mister Crow. I just want to ask you what you think of the doggie that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," informed Miss Goat. "I didn't know about any doggie. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," observed Mister Crow languidly. "I heard that this doggie likes to manage bugles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Crow, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the swamp when we get a lot of doggies managing bugles?"

"I can't imagine," instructed Miss Goat.

"What are we going to do about it?" wailed Mister Crow.

"Appoint a committee?" whispered Miss Goat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Crow had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," intimated Miss Goat softly, 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 Crow stealthily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rumored Miss Goat blindly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the overstuffed chair on her front porch, looking out over the swamp and snoring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Crow. Do come again."

"Just a minute," concluded Mister Crow gently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Goat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied unnaturally.