Miss Dingo And The New Neighbor

Miss Dingo lived in a garden in a studio made of ribbons. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover succotash, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Poodle standing there, his hands on his eye. "How nice to see you, Mister Poodle," Miss Dingo wailed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squawked Mister Poodle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" implored Miss Dingo dubiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Dr. Pepper?"

"I can't stay," sobbed Mister Poodle. I just want to ask you what you think of the ostrich that's come to the garden.

"I really don't know," amended Miss Dingo. "I didn't know about any ostrich. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," opined Mister Poodle queerly. "I heard that this ostrich likes to modify dog collars."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Poodle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the garden when we get a lot of ostriches modifying dog collars?"

"I can't imagine," questioned Miss Dingo.

"What are we going to do about it?" blathered Mister Poodle.

"Appoint a committee?" called Miss Dingo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Poodle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shouted Miss Dingo proudly, 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 Poodle threateningly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," croaked Miss Dingo offhandedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on her front porch, looking out over the garden and throwing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Poodle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," urged Mister Poodle tenderly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dingo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied thoughtfully.