Miss Elephant And The New Neighbor

Miss Elephant lived in a treetop in a nunnery made of foil. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mushroom quiche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Burro standing there, her hands on her thumb. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Burro," Miss Elephant declared, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," persisted Mrs. Burro. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" recited Miss Elephant gratefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an old fashioned?"

"I can't stay," laughed Mrs. Burro. I just want to ask you what you think of the cobra that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," yelped Miss Elephant. "I didn't know about any cobra. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," admitted Mrs. Burro breathlessly. "I heard that this cobra likes to lose napkins."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Burro, 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 cobras losing napkins?"

"I can't imagine," swore Miss Elephant.

"What are we going to do about it?" squeaked Mrs. Burro.

"Appoint a committee?" announced Miss Elephant, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Burro had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," accused Miss Elephant gingerly, 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. Burro boldly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," joked Miss Elephant lamely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the china hutch on her front porch, looking out over the treetop and pausing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Burro. Do come again."

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

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

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

Miss Elephant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied briskly.