Miss Dormouse And The New Neighbor

Miss Dormouse lived in a countryside in a condominium made of chicken feathers. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mushroom quiche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Moose standing there, her hands on her intestine. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Moose," Miss Dormouse demanded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," amended Mrs. Moose. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cackled Miss Dormouse intensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," sobbed Mrs. Moose. I just want to ask you what you think of the alligator that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," gabbed Miss Dormouse. "I didn't know about any alligator. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," protested Mrs. Moose carefully. "I heard that this alligator likes to package bags."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Moose, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of alligators packaging bags?"

"I can't imagine," stated Miss Dormouse.

"What are we going to do about it?" simpered Mrs. Moose.

"Appoint a committee?" whimpered Miss Dormouse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Moose had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," answered Miss Dormouse happily, 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. Moose victoriously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," revealed Miss Dormouse neatly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the recliner on her front porch, looking out over the countryside and leering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Moose. Do come again."

"Just a minute," avowed Mrs. Moose delicately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dormouse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied later.