Miss Mongoose And The New Neighbor

Miss Mongoose lived in a valley in a travel trailer made of paper clips. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover French fries, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Shark standing there, her hands on her midriff. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Shark," Miss Mongoose informed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blustered Mrs. Shark. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reacted Miss Mongoose sagely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," complained Mrs. Shark. I just want to ask you what you think of the poodle that's come to the valley.

"I really don't know," purred Miss Mongoose. "I didn't know about any poodle. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," giggled Mrs. Shark peevishly. "I heard that this poodle likes to curl umbrellas."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Shark, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the valley when we get a lot of poodles curling umbrellas?"

"I can't imagine," yawned Miss Mongoose.

"What are we going to do about it?" pointed out Mrs. Shark.

"Appoint a committee?" concluded Miss Mongoose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Shark had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," maintained Miss Mongoose needlessly, 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. Shark vigorously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," preached Miss Mongoose fondly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the settee on her front porch, looking out over the valley and coming along. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Shark. Do come again."

"Just a minute," trumpeted Mrs. Shark victoriously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mongoose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied innocently.