Miss Ox And The New Neighbor

Miss Ox lived in a treetop in a brownstone made of stainless steel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fondue, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Ox standing there, her hands on her chin. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ox," Miss Ox vouched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," bellowed Mrs. Ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lamented Miss Ox furiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," disputed Mrs. Ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the Chihuahua that's come to the treetop.

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

"Well don't be so sure," growled Mrs. Ox clumsily. "I heard that this Chihuahua likes to stitch pearls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of Chihuahuas stitching pearls?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" judged Mrs. Ox.

"Appoint a committee?" yammered Miss Ox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ox had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sputtered Miss Ox lamely, 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 Mrs. Ox softly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," vouched Miss Ox sharply, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the fainting couch on her front porch, looking out over the treetop and backing down. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cackled Mrs. Ox strictly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Ox 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 innocently.