Miss Gila Monster And The New Neighbor

Miss Gila monster lived in a pasture in a chapel made of dreams and visions. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tuna casserole, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Gorilla standing there, his hands on his rib. "How nice to see you, Mister Gorilla," Miss Gila monster chattered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shuddered Mister Gorilla. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" exploded Miss Gila monster offhandedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," screamed Mister Gorilla. I just want to ask you what you think of the mink that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," chortled Miss Gila monster. "I didn't know about any mink. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," asked Mister Gorilla caustically. "I heard that this mink likes to score contracts."

"Um, I don't know what to say," swore Miss Gila monster, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Gorilla, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of minks scoring contracts?"

"I can't imagine," orated Miss Gila monster.

"What are we going to do about it?" chortled Mister Gorilla.

"Appoint a committee?" disputed Miss Gila monster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gorilla had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cried Miss Gila monster elatedly, 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 Gorilla fondly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," retorted Miss Gila monster again, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on her front porch, looking out over the pasture and swooning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gorilla. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reminded Mister Gorilla narrowly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Gila monster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied properly.