Miss Giraffe And The New Neighbor

Miss Giraffe lived on a cliff in a loft made of styrofoam. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sweet potatoes, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Bullfrog standing there, her hands on her bicep. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bullfrog," Miss Giraffe stammered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," bragged Mrs. Bullfrog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" observed Miss Giraffe dolorously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Alka-Seltzer?"

"I can't stay," questioned Mrs. Bullfrog. I just want to ask you what you think of the hog that's come to the cliff.

"I really don't know," croaked Miss Giraffe. "I didn't know about any hog. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yelled Mrs. Bullfrog solemnly. "I heard that this hog likes to bake pizzas."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bullfrog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cliff when we get a lot of hogs baking pizzas?"

"I can't imagine," stuttered Miss Giraffe.

"What are we going to do about it?" said Mrs. Bullfrog.

"Appoint a committee?" professed Miss Giraffe, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bullfrog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," admitted Miss Giraffe sadly, 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. Bullfrog briskly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," swore Miss Giraffe stealthily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on her front porch, looking out over the cliff and flinching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bullfrog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," harangued Mrs. Bullfrog admiringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Giraffe sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied furiously.