Miss Burro And The New Neighbor

Miss Burro lived in a grassland in a farmhouse made of old newspapers. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tortillas, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Deer standing there, his hands on his pride. "How nice to see you, Mister Deer," Miss Burro screeched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," hummed Mister Deer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" roared Miss Burro stealthily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of lemonade?"

"I can't stay," emphasized Mister Deer. I just want to ask you what you think of the unicorn that's come to the grassland.

"I really don't know," screeched Miss Burro. "I didn't know about any unicorn. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sputtered Mister Deer pityingly. "I heard that this unicorn likes to grasp pieces of chalk."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Deer, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassland when we get a lot of unicorns grasping pieces of chalk?"

"I can't imagine," sniffed Miss Burro.

"What are we going to do about it?" smiled Mister Deer.

"Appoint a committee?" hollered Miss Burro, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Deer had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," peeped Miss Burro automatically, 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 Deer delicately. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," clarified Miss Burro wryly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on her front porch, looking out over the grassland and sneezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Deer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chortled Mister Deer lovingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Burro sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied silently.