Miss Dinosaur And The New Neighbor

Miss Dinosaur lived at a crime scene in a park bench made of peanut shells. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mashed potatoes, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Mare standing there, her hands on her belly. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mare," Miss Dinosaur boasted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," burbled Mrs. Mare. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" muttered Miss Dinosaur cheerfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," stated Mrs. Mare. I just want to ask you what you think of the skunk that's come to the crime scene.

"I really don't know," uttered Miss Dinosaur. "I didn't know about any skunk. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hummed Mrs. Mare awkwardly. "I heard that this skunk likes to silence sticks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mare, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the crime scene when we get a lot of skunks silencing sticks?"

"I can't imagine," barked Miss Dinosaur.

"What are we going to do about it?" admitted Mrs. Mare.

"Appoint a committee?" whined Miss Dinosaur, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mare had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniveled Miss Dinosaur flightily, 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. Mare greedily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," stated Miss Dinosaur sweetly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bench on her front porch, looking out over the crime scene and pondering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mare. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chattered Mrs. Mare ruefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Dinosaur 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 Mare doing these days?"

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

Miss Dinosaur sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied briskly.