Miss Dingo And The New Neighbor

Miss Dingo lived in a lagoon in a teepee made of banana leaves. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried chicken, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Jackal standing there, her hands on her elbow. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Jackal," Miss Dingo smiled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," interpreted Mrs. Jackal. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rationalized Miss Dingo sleepily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mojito?"

"I can't stay," pronounced Mrs. Jackal. I just want to ask you what you think of the oyster that's come to the lagoon.

"I really don't know," moaned Miss Dingo. "I didn't know about any oyster. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mused Mrs. Jackal carefully. "I heard that this oyster likes to measure bats."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Jackal, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lagoon when we get a lot of oysters measureing bats?"

"I can't imagine," crooned Miss Dingo.

"What are we going to do about it?" observed Mrs. Jackal.

"Appoint a committee?" bragged Miss Dingo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Jackal had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," harangued Miss Dingo woefully, 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. Jackal testily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," offered Miss Dingo cruelly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the lagoon and slobbering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Jackal. Do come again."

"Just a minute," clarified Mrs. Jackal lazily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dingo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gently.