Miss Goat And The New Neighbor

Miss Goat lived in a swamp in a KOA Kampground made of rammed earth. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tofu, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Falcon standing there, his hands on his mouth. "How nice to see you, Mister Falcon," Miss Goat railed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pronounced Mister Falcon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" agreed Miss Goat pityingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin sour?"

"I can't stay," interpreted Mister Falcon. I just want to ask you what you think of the muskrat that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," breathed Miss Goat. "I didn't know about any muskrat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shrieked Mister Falcon greedily. "I heard that this muskrat likes to brush boomerangs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Falcon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the swamp when we get a lot of muskrats brushing boomerangs?"

"I can't imagine," disputed Miss Goat.

"What are we going to do about it?" groaned Mister Falcon.

"Appoint a committee?" screamed Miss Goat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Falcon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mentioned Miss Goat angrily, 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 Falcon primly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," provoked Miss Goat perkily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the fainting couch on her front porch, looking out over the swamp and playing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Falcon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," debated Mister Falcon nonchalantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Goat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied despondently.