Miss Mountain Goat And The New Neighbor

Miss Mountain goat lived in a swamp in a loft made of Saran Wrap. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" announced Miss Mountain goat pitifully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a martini?"

"I can't stay," rambled Mrs. Dingo. I just want to ask you what you think of the gorilla that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," declared Miss Mountain goat. "I didn't know about any gorilla. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," whined Mrs. Dingo woodenly. "I heard that this gorilla likes to blacken bananas."

"Um, I don't know what to say," interrupted Miss Mountain goat, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dingo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the swamp when we get a lot of gorillas blackening bananas?"

"I can't imagine," pointed out Miss Mountain goat.

"What are we going to do about it?" noted Mrs. Dingo.

"Appoint a committee?" mused Miss Mountain goat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dingo had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," winked Miss Mountain goat hysterically, 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. Dingo courteously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," observed Miss Mountain goat steadily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the umbrella stand on her front porch, looking out over the swamp and cheering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dingo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," comforted Mrs. Dingo lamely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mountain goat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied pitifully.