Miss Moose And The New Neighbor

Miss Moose lived on a plateau in an A-frame made of papier-mâché. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover applesauce, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" interpreted Miss Moose hysterically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," hollered Mister Rooster. I just want to ask you what you think of the llama that's come to the plateau.

"I really don't know," alleged Miss Moose. "I didn't know about any llama. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," pronounced Mister Rooster excitedly. "I heard that this llama likes to stab screwdrivers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Rooster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plateau when we get a lot of llamas stabbing screwdrivers?"

"I can't imagine," argued Miss Moose.

"What are we going to do about it?" acknowledged Mister Rooster.

"Appoint a committee?" realized Miss Moose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Rooster had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," snarled Miss Moose firmly, 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 Rooster carefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," bragged Miss Moose ferociously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on her front porch, looking out over the plateau and fantasizing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Rooster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yelped Mister Rooster rapidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Moose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied menacingly.