Miss Prairie Dog And The New Neighbor

Miss Prairie dog lived in a glen in a townhouse made of ivory. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cinnamon toast, when she heard a knock at the door.

She straggled 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 eyelash. "How nice to see you, Mister Deer," Miss Prairie dog taunted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blustered Mister Deer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" judged Miss Prairie dog grandly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of lemonade?"

"I can't stay," smiled Mister Deer. I just want to ask you what you think of the pelican that's come to the glen.

"I really don't know," yowled Miss Prairie dog. "I didn't know about any pelican. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," voiced Mister Deer charmingly. "I heard that this pelican likes to shorten mops."

"Um, I don't know what to say," sneered Miss Prairie dog, 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 glen when we get a lot of pelicans shortening mops?"

"I can't imagine," protested Miss Prairie dog.

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

"Appoint a committee?" whispered Miss Prairie dog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Deer had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shrieked Miss Prairie dog daintily, 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 grudgingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," joked Miss Prairie dog ruefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on her front porch, looking out over the glen and raising an eyebrow. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Deer. Do come again."

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

Miss Prairie dog thought she had answered, and was beginning to get lively. "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 Prairie dog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gingerly.