Miss Beagle And The New Neighbor

Miss Beagle lived at a seashore in a cave made of cellophane. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mulligan stew, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Sheep standing there, his hands on his belly. "How nice to see you, Mister Sheep," Miss Beagle answered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," emphasized Mister Sheep. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," imitated Mister Sheep. I just want to ask you what you think of the manatee that's come to the seashore.

"I really don't know," roared Miss Beagle. "I didn't know about any manatee. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," jeered Mister Sheep menacingly. "I heard that this manatee likes to taste antennas."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Sheep, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seashore when we get a lot of manatees tasting antennas?"

"I can't imagine," pleaded Miss Beagle.

"What are we going to do about it?" comforted Mister Sheep.

"Appoint a committee?" shrieked Miss Beagle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Sheep had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pleaded Miss Beagle deliberately, 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 Sheep caustically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," gabbed Miss Beagle coolly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the overstuffed chair on her front porch, looking out over the seashore and swooning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Sheep. Do come again."

"Just a minute," voiced Mister Sheep positively. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Beagle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied surreptitiously.