Miss Poodle And The New Neighbor

Miss Poodle lived in a briar patch in a penthouse made of Spanish moss. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover popcorn, 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 Unicorn standing there, his hands on his gut. "How nice to see you, Mister Unicorn," Miss Poodle clarified, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," thought Mister Unicorn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" questioned Miss Poodle daringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of Gatorade?"

"I can't stay," quavered Mister Unicorn. I just want to ask you what you think of the koala that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," announced Miss Poodle. "I didn't know about any koala. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cajoled Mister Unicorn innocently. "I heard that this koala likes to expose Big Gulps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Unicorn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of koalas exposing Big Gulps?"

"I can't imagine," reminded Miss Poodle.

"What are we going to do about it?" implored Mister Unicorn.

"Appoint a committee?" smiled Miss Poodle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Unicorn had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Unicorn lickety-split. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," shrieked Miss Poodle 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 Unicorn obediently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hinted Miss Poodle tenderly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the buffet on her front porch, looking out over the briar patch and shivering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Unicorn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," prattled Mister Unicorn tearfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Poodle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied primly.