Miss Groundhog And The New Neighbor

Miss Groundhog lived in an arroyo in a villa made of cookie dough. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken gumbo, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Fawn standing there, his hands on his calf. "How nice to see you, Mister Fawn," Miss Groundhog questioned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fumed Mister Fawn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" commented Miss Groundhog daringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a grape soda?"

"I can't stay," announced Mister Fawn. I just want to ask you what you think of the prairie dog that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," whimpered Miss Groundhog. "I didn't know about any prairie dog. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," analyzed Mister Fawn neatly. "I heard that this prairie dog likes to hammer handkerchiefs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Fawn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of prairie dogs hammering handkerchiefs?"

"I can't imagine," screamed Miss Groundhog.

"What are we going to do about it?" bragged Mister Fawn.

"Appoint a committee?" prattled Miss Groundhog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Fawn had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniffed Miss Groundhog threateningly, 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 Fawn patiently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," simpered Miss Groundhog suavely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the arroyo and huffing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Fawn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," offered Mister Fawn swiftly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Groundhog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied urgently.