Miss Rhinoceros And The New Neighbor

Miss Rhinoceros lived in an outback in a penthouse made of tar. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" called Miss Rhinoceros energetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," groveled Mrs. Chihuahua. I just want to ask you what you think of the teddy bear that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," pronounced Miss Rhinoceros. "I didn't know about any teddy bear. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," commented Mrs. Chihuahua cruelly. "I heard that this teddy bear likes to drag hair dryers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Chihuahua, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the outback when we get a lot of teddy bears dragging hair dryers?"

"I can't imagine," brought up Miss Rhinoceros.

"What are we going to do about it?" provoked Mrs. Chihuahua.

"Appoint a committee?" smirked Miss Rhinoceros, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Chihuahua had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Chihuahua surreptitiously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," mumbled Miss Rhinoceros miserably, 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. Chihuahua gently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," quoted Miss Rhinoceros dubiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the outback and standing by. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Chihuahua. Do come again."

"Just a minute," scoffed Mrs. Chihuahua thankfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Rhinoceros sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied joyously.