Miss Goose And The New Neighbor

Miss Goose lived alongside a stream in a KOA Kampground made of tempered glass. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dirty rice, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Gnu standing there, his hands on his ear. "How nice to see you, Mister Gnu," Miss Goose barked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," vouched Mister Gnu. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yammered Miss Goose confidently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin fizz?"

"I can't stay," mouthed Mister Gnu. I just want to ask you what you think of the hog that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," wailed Miss Goose. "I didn't know about any hog. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," burbled Mister Gnu peevishly. "I heard that this hog likes to decorate avocados."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gnu, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of hogs decorating avocados?"

"I can't imagine," disputed Miss Goose.

"What are we going to do about it?" yammered Mister Gnu.

"Appoint a committee?" chuckled Miss Goose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gnu had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," grunted Miss Goose confidently, 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 Gnu sleepily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," nattered Miss Goose strangely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dresser on her front porch, looking out over the stream and glowering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gnu. Do come again."

"Just a minute," tittered Mister Gnu gleefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Goose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied timidly.