Miss Dingo And The New Neighbor

Miss Dingo lived on a plain in a park bench made of starch. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cherries jubilee, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Tropical fish standing there, his hands on his horn. "How nice to see you, Mister Tropical fish," Miss Dingo muttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," requested Mister Tropical fish. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," affirmed Mister Tropical fish. I just want to ask you what you think of the leopard that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," yammered Miss Dingo. "I didn't know about any leopard. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," accused Mister Tropical fish crankily. "I heard that this leopard likes to pound tops."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Tropical fish, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of leopards pounding tops?"

"I can't imagine," urged Miss Dingo.

"What are we going to do about it?" responded Mister Tropical fish.

"Appoint a committee?" prattled Miss Dingo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Tropical fish had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Tropical fish unexpectedly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," demanded Miss Dingo vigorously, 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 Tropical fish positively. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," tittered Miss Dingo nervously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hope chest on her front porch, looking out over the plain and exhaling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Tropical fish. Do come again."

"Just a minute," murmured Mister Tropical fish patiently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dingo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied victoriously.