Mister Basset Hound And The New Neighbor

Mister Basset hound lived in a valley in an office made of bamboo. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tortillas, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Musk-ox standing there, her hands on her hip. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Musk-ox," Mister Basset hound cajoled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spewed Mrs. Musk-ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" smirked Mister Basset hound ingeniously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Seven and Seven?"

"I can't stay," worried Mrs. Musk-ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the doggie that's come to the valley.

"I really don't know," trumpeted Mister Basset hound. "I didn't know about any doggie. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," spouted Mrs. Musk-ox unabashedly. "I heard that this doggie likes to review diamonds."

"Um, I don't know what to say," questioned Mister Basset hound, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Musk-ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the valley when we get a lot of doggies reviewing diamonds?"

"I can't imagine," blustered Mister Basset hound.

"What are we going to do about it?" hummed Mrs. Musk-ox.

"Appoint a committee?" whispered Mister Basset hound, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Musk-ox had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Musk-ox excitedly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," scoffed Mister Basset hound madly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Musk-ox angrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mentioned Mister Basset hound urgently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on his front porch, looking out over the valley and looking angry. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Musk-ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chimed Mrs. Musk-ox noisily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Basset hound thought he had answered, and was beginning to get rapacious. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Musk-ox doing these days?"

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

Mister Basset hound sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied lamely.