Miss Mule And The New Neighbor

Miss Mule lived on an island in a villa made of bubbles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Tarantula standing there, her hands on her abdomen. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Tarantula," Miss Mule called, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," professed Mrs. Tarantula. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" remarked Miss Mule furiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," burbled Mrs. Tarantula. I just want to ask you what you think of the whale that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," expressed Miss Mule. "I didn't know about any whale. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," divulged Mrs. Tarantula unexpectedly. "I heard that this whale likes to describe cream puffs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Tarantula, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of whales describing cream puffs?"

"I can't imagine," emphasized Miss Mule.

"What are we going to do about it?" decided Mrs. Tarantula.

"Appoint a committee?" joked Miss Mule, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Tarantula had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blustered Miss Mule threateningly, 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. Tarantula grandly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," grunted Miss Mule gently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the overstuffed chair on her front porch, looking out over the island and spitting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Tarantula. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yelled Mrs. Tarantula perkily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mule sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sharply.