Miss Chihuahua And The New Neighbor

Miss Chihuahua lived on a ridge in a bungalow made of manure. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sushi, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Garter snake standing there, her hands on her hand. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Garter snake," Miss Chihuahua raved, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," remarked Mrs. Garter snake. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" accused Miss Chihuahua boldly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a V8?"

"I can't stay," agreed Mrs. Garter snake. I just want to ask you what you think of the worm that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," purred Miss Chihuahua. "I didn't know about any worm. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," decided Mrs. Garter snake clumsily. "I heard that this worm likes to enclose stacks of papers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Garter snake, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of worms enclosing stacks of papers?"

"I can't imagine," revealed Miss Chihuahua.

"What are we going to do about it?" howled Mrs. Garter snake.

"Appoint a committee?" complained Miss Chihuahua, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Garter snake had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Garter snake sheepishly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," exclaimed Miss Chihuahua swiftly, 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. Garter snake pityingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," warbled Miss Chihuahua repeatedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and puckering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Garter snake. Do come again."

"Just a minute," spat Mrs. Garter snake sorrowfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Chihuahua sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sternly.