Miss Hippopotamus And The New Neighbor

Miss Hippopotamus lived at a lakeside in a wigwam made of alpaca hair. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover enchiladas, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Mare standing there, her hands on her claw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mare," Miss Hippopotamus rationalized, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," emphasized Mrs. Mare. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" screeched Miss Hippopotamus narrowly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," spouted Mrs. Mare. I just want to ask you what you think of the puppy that's come to the lakeside.

"I really don't know," clarified Miss Hippopotamus. "I didn't know about any puppy. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," judged Mrs. Mare warmly. "I heard that this puppy likes to curl fishhooks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mare, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lakeside when we get a lot of puppies curling fishhooks?"

"I can't imagine," announced Miss Hippopotamus.

"What are we going to do about it?" protested Mrs. Mare.

"Appoint a committee?" screamed Miss Hippopotamus, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mare had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Mare lickety-split. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," noted Miss Hippopotamus energetically, 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. Mare proudly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mumbled Miss Hippopotamus madly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the catbird seat on her front porch, looking out over the lakeside and panting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mare. Do come again."

"Just a minute," smirked Mrs. Mare quietly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Hippopotamus sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied brightly.