Miss Dromedary And The New Neighbor

Miss Dromedary lived on a butte in a spa made of alpaca hair. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover jambalaya, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Airedale standing there, his hands on his wig. "How nice to see you, Mister Airedale," Miss Dromedary chanted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," persisted Mister Airedale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" debated Miss Dromedary woodenly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of grape juice?"

"I can't stay," barked Mister Airedale. I just want to ask you what you think of the dromedary that's come to the butte.

"I really don't know," questioned Miss Dromedary. "I didn't know about any dromedary. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," interrupted Mister Airedale smoothly. "I heard that this dromedary likes to roll orchids."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Airedale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the butte when we get a lot of dromedaries rolling orchids?"

"I can't imagine," repeated Miss Dromedary.

"What are we going to do about it?" appealed Mister Airedale.

"Appoint a committee?" whispered Miss Dromedary, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Airedale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pointed out Miss Dromedary stupidly, 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 Airedale steadily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reacted Miss Dromedary strictly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dresser on her front porch, looking out over the butte and partying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Airedale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," joked Mister Airedale cautiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dromedary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied lazily.