Miss Boa Constrictor And The New Neighbor

Miss Boa constrictor lived on a tundra in a brownstone made of copper. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pecan pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Dog standing there, her hands on her belly. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Dog," Miss Boa constrictor exploded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," scoffed Mrs. Dog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" whispered Miss Boa constrictor carefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mojito?"

"I can't stay," boasted Mrs. Dog. I just want to ask you what you think of the frog that's come to the tundra.

"I really don't know," tittered Miss Boa constrictor. "I didn't know about any frog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," questioned Mrs. Dog sweetly. "I heard that this frog likes to trim flutes."

"Um, I don't know what to say," crooned Miss Boa constrictor, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the tundra when we get a lot of frogs trimming flutes?"

"I can't imagine," insisted Miss Boa constrictor.

"What are we going to do about it?" hollered Mrs. Dog.

"Appoint a committee?" lectured Miss Boa constrictor, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dog had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Dog languidly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," repeated Miss Boa constrictor courageously, 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. Dog sweetly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," wailed Miss Boa constrictor anxiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the credenza on her front porch, looking out over the tundra and scratching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," gasped Mrs. Dog charmingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Boa constrictor sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied nicely.