Miss Ox And The New Neighbor

Miss Ox lived at a dump in a geodesic dome made of dirt. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Mink standing there, his hands on his shin. "How nice to see you, Mister Mink," Miss Ox intimated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," smiled Mister Mink. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" enunciated Miss Ox patiently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a latte?"

"I can't stay," smiled Mister Mink. I just want to ask you what you think of the honeybee that's come to the dump.

"I really don't know," pointed out Miss Ox. "I didn't know about any honeybee. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," observed Mister Mink stealthily. "I heard that this honeybee likes to box houseplants."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mink, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dump when we get a lot of honeybees boxing houseplants?"

"I can't imagine," bawled Miss Ox.

"What are we going to do about it?" expressed Mister Mink.

"Appoint a committee?" railed Miss Ox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mink had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pointed out Miss Ox gruffly, 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 Mink nervously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chortled Miss Ox thoughtfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on her front porch, looking out over the dump and humming. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mink. Do come again."

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

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

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

Miss Ox sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied silently.