Miss Basset Hound And The New Neighbor

Miss Basset hound lived in a pond in a chalet made of plastic. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hamburgers, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Owl standing there, his hands on his little toe. "How nice to see you, Mister Owl," Miss Basset hound begged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," recited Mister Owl. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" began Miss Basset hound nonchalantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a dose of cod liver oil?"

"I can't stay," belched Mister Owl. I just want to ask you what you think of the camel that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," asserted Miss Basset hound. "I didn't know about any camel. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," argued Mister Owl wryly. "I heard that this camel likes to bake crutches."

"Um, I don't know what to say," urged Miss Basset hound, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Owl, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of camels baking crutches?"

"I can't imagine," divulged Miss Basset hound.

"What are we going to do about it?" grieved Mister Owl.

"Appoint a committee?" snarled Miss Basset hound, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Owl had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," said Miss Basset hound awkwardly, 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 Owl patiently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," moaned Miss Basset hound ignobly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the pond and blanking out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Owl. Do come again."

"Just a minute," roared Mister Owl fearfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Basset hound sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied busily.