Miss Burro And The New Neighbor

Miss Burro lived in an outback in a mansion made of linen. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dry toast, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" requested Miss Burro gratefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sarsaparilla?"

"I can't stay," persisted Mrs. Shark. I just want to ask you what you think of the koala that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," rationalized Miss Burro. "I didn't know about any koala. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," retorted Mrs. Shark stupidly. "I heard that this koala likes to disguise candles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Shark, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the outback when we get a lot of koalas disguising candles?"

"I can't imagine," implored Miss Burro.

"What are we going to do about it?" lectured Mrs. Shark.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chattered Miss Burro victoriously, 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. Shark shakily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," burbled Miss Burro properly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the computer on her front porch, looking out over the outback and expectorating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Shark. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wondered Mrs. Shark quickly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Burro sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied rapidly.