Miss Horsie And The New Neighbor

Miss Horsie lived at a crime scene in a nunnery made of cards. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oatmeal, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Macaque standing there, her hands on her waist. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Macaque," Miss Horsie interpreted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," amended Mrs. Macaque. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squawked Miss Horsie offhandedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," preached Mrs. Macaque. I just want to ask you what you think of the penguin that's come to the crime scene.

"I really don't know," sneered Miss Horsie. "I didn't know about any penguin. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chortled Mrs. Macaque zestily. "I heard that this penguin likes to bleach flags."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Macaque, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the crime scene when we get a lot of penguins bleaching flags?"

"I can't imagine," decided Miss Horsie.

"What are we going to do about it?" fretted Mrs. Macaque.

"Appoint a committee?" observed Miss Horsie, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Macaque had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," affirmed Miss Horsie grandly, 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. Macaque fondly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yowled Miss Horsie perkily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the crime scene and barking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Macaque. Do come again."

"Just a minute," drawled Mrs. Macaque strangely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Horsie sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied nicely.