Miss Cow And The New Neighbor

Miss Cow lived on a plain in a box made of marbles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg drop soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Puma standing there, his hands on his mouth. "How nice to see you, Mister Puma," Miss Cow scoffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," nattered Mister Puma. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" giggled Miss Cow slyly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chamomile tea?"

"I can't stay," reacted Mister Puma. I just want to ask you what you think of the cockatiel that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," sobbed Miss Cow. "I didn't know about any cockatiel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," affirmed Mister Puma later. "I heard that this cockatiel likes to kick twigs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Puma, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of cockatiels kicking twigs?"

"I can't imagine," vowed Miss Cow.

"What are we going to do about it?" invited Mister Puma.

"Appoint a committee?" continued Miss Cow, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Puma had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," concluded Miss Cow stupidly, 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 Puma fearlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," began Miss Cow irritably, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the card table on her front porch, looking out over the plain and squeaking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Puma. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hissed Mister Puma boldly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Cow sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied narrowly.