Miss Mink And The New Neighbor

Miss Mink lived at a dump in a retreat made of tissue. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tofu, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Dalmatian standing there, his hands on his tummy. "How nice to see you, Mister Dalmatian," Miss Mink chattered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," reasoned Mister Dalmatian. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" queried Miss Mink gratefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," cajoled Mister Dalmatian. I just want to ask you what you think of the manticore that's come to the dump.

"I really don't know," enunciated Miss Mink. "I didn't know about any manticore. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," began Mister Dalmatian primly. "I heard that this manticore likes to sharpen spittoons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Dalmatian, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dump when we get a lot of manticores sharpening spittoons?"

"I can't imagine," cried Miss Mink.

"What are we going to do about it?" orated Mister Dalmatian.

"Appoint a committee?" roared Miss Mink, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dalmatian had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spoke up Miss Mink sharply, 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 Dalmatian violently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," roared Miss Mink boldly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hope chest on her front porch, looking out over the dump and dilly-dallying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dalmatian. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reacted Mister Dalmatian flightily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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