Miss Burro And The New Neighbor

Miss Burro lived in a grassland in a palace made of bamboo. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried okra, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Gila monster standing there, his hands on his pituitary gland. "How nice to see you, Mister Gila monster," Miss Burro acknowledged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sputtered Mister Gila monster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" peeped Miss Burro fondly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of buttermilk?"

"I can't stay," grieved Mister Gila monster. I just want to ask you what you think of the snipe that's come to the grassland.

"I really don't know," rumored Miss Burro. "I didn't know about any snipe. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," nattered Mister Gila monster gratefully. "I heard that this snipe likes to liquify towels."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gila monster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassland when we get a lot of snipes liquifying towels?"

"I can't imagine," vowed Miss Burro.

"What are we going to do about it?" announced Mister Gila monster.

"Appoint a committee?" harangued Miss Burro, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gila monster had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Gila monster languidly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," contended Miss Burro unexpectedly, 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 Gila monster repeatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mouthed Miss Burro lightly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on her front porch, looking out over the grassland and squeaking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gila monster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stammered Mister Gila monster wryly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Burro sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied unnaturally.