Miss Coyote And The New Neighbor

Miss Coyote lived in a desert in a park bench made of plaster of Paris. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg salad sandwich, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Cocker spaniel standing there, his hands on his ego. "How nice to see you, Mister Cocker spaniel," Miss Coyote ranted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," roared Mister Cocker spaniel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" swore Miss Coyote crossly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin sour?"

"I can't stay," screamed Mister Cocker spaniel. I just want to ask you what you think of the baboon that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," intimated Miss Coyote. "I didn't know about any baboon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yawned Mister Cocker spaniel vacantly. "I heard that this baboon likes to flush bouquets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cocker spaniel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of baboons flushing bouquets?"

"I can't imagine," instructed Miss Coyote.

"What are we going to do about it?" chanted Mister Cocker spaniel.

"Appoint a committee?" inquired Miss Coyote, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cocker spaniel had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Cocker spaniel roughly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," yammered Miss Coyote glibly, 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 Cocker spaniel gruffly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," purred Miss Coyote nimbly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on her front porch, looking out over the desert and dawdling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cocker spaniel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," warbled Mister Cocker spaniel immediately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Coyote sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied obediently.