Miss Goose And The New Neighbor

Miss Goose lived on a ridge in an A-frame made of maple. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Dolphin standing there, his hands on his calf. "How nice to see you, Mister Dolphin," Miss Goose remarked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," acknowledged Mister Dolphin. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" burbled Miss Goose courageously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a daiquiri?"

"I can't stay," mentioned Mister Dolphin. I just want to ask you what you think of the hornet that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," whispered Miss Goose. "I didn't know about any hornet. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," intimated Mister Dolphin steadily. "I heard that this hornet likes to play with bird cages."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Dolphin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of hornets playing with bird cages?"

"I can't imagine," gabbed Miss Goose.

"What are we going to do about it?" alleged Mister Dolphin.

"Appoint a committee?" groaned Miss Goose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dolphin had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cackled Miss Goose truculently, 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 Dolphin shakily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," announced Miss Goose warily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and freezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dolphin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," grieved Mister Dolphin testily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Goose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied curiously.