Miss Prairie Dog And The New Neighbor

Miss Prairie dog lived on an island in a manor house made of fabric. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beans, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Snipe standing there, her hands on her spinal cord. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Snipe," Miss Prairie dog lectured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," wondered Mrs. Snipe. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" queried Miss Prairie dog needlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an iced tea?"

"I can't stay," implored Mrs. Snipe. I just want to ask you what you think of the donkey that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," amended Miss Prairie dog. "I didn't know about any donkey. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," vouched Mrs. Snipe vacantly. "I heard that this donkey likes to overlook key rings."

"Um, I don't know what to say," squawked Miss Prairie dog, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Snipe, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of donkeys overlooking key rings?"

"I can't imagine," informed Miss Prairie dog.

"What are we going to do about it?" breathed Mrs. Snipe.

"Appoint a committee?" boasted Miss Prairie dog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Snipe had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yelled Miss Prairie dog ferociously, 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. Snipe tenderly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blathered Miss Prairie dog sourly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on her front porch, looking out over the island and buzzing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Snipe. Do come again."

"Just a minute," appealed Mrs. Snipe unabashedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Prairie dog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied dubiously.