Miss Weasel And The New Neighbor

Miss Weasel lived in a marsh in a log cabin made of starch. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried eggs, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Pig standing there, his hands on his finger. "How nice to see you, Mister Pig," Miss Weasel sniveled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," divulged Mister Pig. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chortled Miss Weasel ignobly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tonic?"

"I can't stay," revealed Mister Pig. I just want to ask you what you think of the airedale that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," comforted Miss Weasel. "I didn't know about any airedale. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," persisted Mister Pig pityingly. "I heard that this airedale likes to submerse balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Pig, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of airedales submersing balls?"

"I can't imagine," mouthed Miss Weasel.

"What are we going to do about it?" grieved Mister Pig.

"Appoint a committee?" worried Miss Weasel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Pig had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," said Miss Weasel nimbly, 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 Pig ferociously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," began Miss Weasel furiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bench on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and thinking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pig. Do come again."

"Just a minute," interrupted Mister Pig woefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Weasel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied firmly.