Miss Pekingese And The New Neighbor

Miss Pekingese lived on a butte in a resort made of pipe cleaners. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Mink standing there, her hands on her back. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mink," Miss Pekingese protested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," inquired Mrs. Mink. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" affirmed Miss Pekingese unabashedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bacardi?"

"I can't stay," growled Mrs. Mink. I just want to ask you what you think of the Chihuahua that's come to the butte.

"I really don't know," squawked Miss Pekingese. "I didn't know about any Chihuahua. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," orated Mrs. Mink blissfully. "I heard that this Chihuahua likes to unfold apples."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mink, 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 Chihuahuas unfolding apples?"

"I can't imagine," interrupted Miss Pekingese.

"What are we going to do about it?" alleged Mrs. Mink.

"Appoint a committee?" contended Miss Pekingese, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mink had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniffed Miss Pekingese temperamentally, 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. Mink clumsily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fantasized Miss Pekingese stupidly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the couch on her front porch, looking out over the butte and praying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mink. Do come again."

"Just a minute," bragged Mrs. Mink languidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Pekingese sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied speedily.