Mister Dog And The New Neighbor

Mister Dog lived alongside a stream in a Spanish colonial made of brass. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast turkey, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Gazelle standing there, her hands on her front tooth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Gazelle," Mister Dog shrieked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," laughed Mrs. Gazelle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" ranted Mister Dog zestily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bloody Mary?"

"I can't stay," blustered Mrs. Gazelle. I just want to ask you what you think of the nightingale that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," agreed Mister Dog. "I didn't know about any nightingale. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," squealed Mrs. Gazelle ignobly. "I heard that this nightingale likes to shake tops."

"Um, I don't know what to say," spewed Mister Dog, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Gazelle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of nightingales shaking tops?"

"I can't imagine," yowled Mister Dog.

"What are we going to do about it?" realized Mrs. Gazelle.

"Appoint a committee?" called Mister Dog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Gazelle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," preached Mister Dog sorrowfully, 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. Gazelle thankfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," urged Mister Dog unexpectedly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rocking chair on his front porch, looking out over the stream and jumping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Gazelle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intimated Mrs. Gazelle needlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Dog thought he had answered, and was beginning to get tired. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Gazelle doing these days?"

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

Mister Dog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied softly.