Miss Android And The New Neighbor

Miss Android lived on a prairie in a cardboard box made of paper clips. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lasagna, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Prairie dog standing there, her hands on her arm. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Prairie dog," Miss Android stormed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," queried Mrs. Prairie dog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" contended Miss Android jokingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of grape juice?"

"I can't stay," guessed Mrs. Prairie dog. I just want to ask you what you think of the goblin that's come to the prairie.

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

"Well don't be so sure," conversed Mrs. Prairie dog crankily. "I heard that this goblin likes to shave fishhooks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Prairie dog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the prairie when we get a lot of goblins shaving fishhooks?"

"I can't imagine," queried Miss Android.

"What are we going to do about it?" stated Mrs. Prairie dog.

"Appoint a committee?" chattered Miss Android, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Prairie dog had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Prairie dog elatedly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," blurted Miss Android merrily, 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. Prairie dog daringly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screeched Miss Android urgently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on her front porch, looking out over the prairie and playing solitaire. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Prairie dog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," grunted Mrs. Prairie dog violently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Android sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied hopefully.