Miss Caribou And The New Neighbor

Miss Caribou lived in a pond in a condominium made of ashes. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beef bouillon, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" vowed Miss Caribou surreptitiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of bouillon?"

"I can't stay," bellowed Mrs. Mountain goat. I just want to ask you what you think of the camel that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," raved Miss Caribou. "I didn't know about any camel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," nattered Mrs. Mountain goat deftly. "I heard that this camel likes to pinch pens."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mountain goat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of camels pinching pens?"

"I can't imagine," bragged Miss Caribou.

"What are we going to do about it?" informed Mrs. Mountain goat.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," comforted Miss Caribou firmly, 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. Mountain goat threateningly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," opined Miss Caribou valiantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the fainting couch on her front porch, looking out over the pond and snorting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mountain goat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," thought Mrs. Mountain goat happily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Caribou sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied wryly.