Miss Doberman And The New Neighbor

Miss Doberman lived in a lagoon in a villa made of polystyrene. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Gazelle standing there, her hands on her knuckle. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Gazelle," Miss Doberman bellowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," mentioned Mrs. Gazelle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" vowed Miss Doberman tenderly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Coke?"

"I can't stay," fretted Mrs. Gazelle. I just want to ask you what you think of the fawn that's come to the lagoon.

"I really don't know," swore Miss Doberman. "I didn't know about any fawn. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," gasped Mrs. Gazelle gratefully. "I heard that this fawn likes to pierce lollipops."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Gazelle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lagoon when we get a lot of fawns piercing lollipops?"

"I can't imagine," chanted Miss Doberman.

"What are we going to do about it?" comforted Mrs. Gazelle.

"Appoint a committee?" squeaked Miss Doberman, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Gazelle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," squeaked Miss Doberman boldly, 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. Gazelle reluctantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," clarified Miss Doberman calmly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on her front porch, looking out over the lagoon and blinking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Gazelle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," decided Mrs. Gazelle pityingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Doberman sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied fearfully.