Miss Pelican And The New Neighbor

Miss Pelican lived at a dump in a travel trailer made of papier-mâché. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg salad sandwich, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Poodle standing there, her hands on her ego. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Poodle," Miss Pelican commented, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," quavered Mrs. Poodle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" provoked Miss Pelican merrily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a shot of tequila?"

"I can't stay," squealed Mrs. Poodle. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolf that's come to the dump.

"I really don't know," chortled Miss Pelican. "I didn't know about any wolf. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," smirked Mrs. Poodle angrily. "I heard that this wolf likes to prepare coffee pots."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Poodle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dump when we get a lot of wolves preparing coffee pots?"

"I can't imagine," fantasized Miss Pelican.

"What are we going to do about it?" yowled Mrs. Poodle.

"Appoint a committee?" exploded Miss Pelican, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Poodle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rumored Miss Pelican calmly, 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. Poodle calmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," decided Miss Pelican glumly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the wooden crate on her front porch, looking out over the dump and pondering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Poodle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," peeped Mrs. Poodle angrily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Pelican sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied warmly.