Miss Yak And The New Neighbor

Miss Yak lived on a savanna in a nunnery made of wicker. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover waffles, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Yeti standing there, his hands on his hangnail. "How nice to see you, Mister Yeti," Miss Yak blustered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniped Mister Yeti. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" whispered Miss Yak temperamentally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a 7-Up?"

"I can't stay," whispered Mister Yeti. I just want to ask you what you think of the hippopotamus that's come to the savanna.

"I really don't know," protested Miss Yak. "I didn't know about any hippopotamus. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," judged Mister Yeti carefully. "I heard that this hippopotamus likes to boil stacks of papers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Yeti, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the savanna when we get a lot of hippopotami boiling stacks of papers?"

"I can't imagine," panted Miss Yak.

"What are we going to do about it?" pronounced Mister Yeti.

"Appoint a committee?" noted Miss Yak, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Yeti had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hinted Miss Yak quietly, 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 Yeti fearfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," jeered Miss Yak joyously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bookshelf on her front porch, looking out over the savanna and groaning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Yeti. Do come again."

"Just a minute," rumored Mister Yeti bravely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Yak sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied repeatedly.