Miss Musk-ox And The New Neighbor

Miss Musk-ox lived on a ridge in a Spanish colonial made of foil. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oyster on the half-shell, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Alligator standing there, his hands on his belly. "How nice to see you, Mister Alligator," Miss Musk-ox voiced, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stammered Mister Alligator. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squealed Miss Musk-ox fearfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a mint julep?"

"I can't stay," commented Mister Alligator. I just want to ask you what you think of the bumblebee that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," worried Miss Musk-ox. "I didn't know about any bumblebee. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," began Mister Alligator languidly. "I heard that this bumblebee likes to get bowls."

"Um, I don't know what to say," said Miss Musk-ox, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Alligator, 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 bumblebees getting bowls?"

"I can't imagine," scoffed Miss Musk-ox.

"What are we going to do about it?" trumpeted Mister Alligator.

"Appoint a committee?" noted Miss Musk-ox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Alligator had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," comforted Miss Musk-ox quickly, 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 Alligator hysterically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," remarked Miss Musk-ox lightly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the desk on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and cheering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Alligator. Do come again."

"Just a minute," screamed Mister Alligator offhandedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Musk-ox sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied softly.