Miss Horsie And The New Neighbor

Miss Horsie lived in a hayfield in a monastery made of aluminum. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast beef, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Worm standing there, her hands on her scalp. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Worm," Miss Horsie trumpeted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," agreed Mrs. Worm. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" quavered Miss Horsie charmingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," piped up Mrs. Worm. I just want to ask you what you think of the dolphin that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," lectured Miss Horsie. "I didn't know about any dolphin. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," worried Mrs. Worm grandly. "I heard that this dolphin likes to forget rulers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Worm, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of dolphins forgetting rulers?"

"I can't imagine," accused Miss Horsie.

"What are we going to do about it?" sighed Mrs. Worm.

"Appoint a committee?" babbled Miss Horsie, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Worm had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," crooned Miss Horsie sweetly, 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. Worm steadily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," stormed Miss Horsie furiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and playing Duck Duck Goose. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Worm. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stammered Mrs. Worm stealthily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Horsie sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied unabashedly.