Miss Hippopotamus And The New Neighbor

Miss Hippopotamus lived on a moonscape in a duplex made of yarn. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mushroom quiche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Cougar standing there, his hands on his belly. "How nice to see you, Mister Cougar," Miss Hippopotamus spat, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," informed Mister Cougar. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" expressed Miss Hippopotamus threateningly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a beer?"

"I can't stay," realized Mister Cougar. I just want to ask you what you think of the sloth that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," sighed Miss Hippopotamus. "I didn't know about any sloth. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," vouched Mister Cougar innocently. "I heard that this sloth likes to refine shoes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cougar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of sloths refining shoes?"

"I can't imagine," agreed Miss Hippopotamus.

"What are we going to do about it?" yowled Mister Cougar.

"Appoint a committee?" squealed Miss Hippopotamus, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cougar had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bragged Miss Hippopotamus swiftly, 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 Cougar steadily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," growled Miss Hippopotamus shyly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the card table on her front porch, looking out over the moonscape and wincing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cougar. Do come again."

"Just a minute," disputed Mister Cougar unabashedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Hippopotamus sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied firmly.