Miss Camel And The New Neighbor

Miss Camel lived on a trail in a wigwam made of corncobs. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover strawberry shortcake, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Camel standing there, his hands on his cheek. "How nice to see you, Mister Camel," Miss Camel chattered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," raved Mister Camel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" trumpeted Miss Camel energetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of water?"

"I can't stay," railed Mister Camel. I just want to ask you what you think of the baboon that's come to the trail.

"I really don't know," declared Miss Camel. "I didn't know about any baboon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," instructed Mister Camel effortlessly. "I heard that this baboon likes to inflate rubber chickens."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Camel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the trail when we get a lot of baboons inflating rubber chickens?"

"I can't imagine," snarled Miss Camel.

"What are we going to do about it?" squeaked Mister Camel.

"Appoint a committee?" babbled Miss Camel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Camel had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Camel solemnly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," howled Miss Camel noisily, 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 Mister Camel grimly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," laughed Miss Camel jokingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on her front porch, looking out over the trail and partying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Camel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," snorted Mister Camel coldly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Camel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied awkwardly.