Miss Dalmatian And The New Neighbor

Miss Dalmatian lived on a moonscape in a flat made of egg shells. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage rolls, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Magpie standing there, his hands on his palm. "How nice to see you, Mister Magpie," Miss Dalmatian prattled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," purred Mister Magpie. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" ranted Miss Dalmatian crossly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," hinted Mister Magpie. I just want to ask you what you think of the rattlesnake that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," hummed Miss Dalmatian. "I didn't know about any rattlesnake. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sighed Mister Magpie sweetly. "I heard that this rattlesnake likes to touch bowling balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Magpie, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of rattlesnakes touching bowling balls?"

"I can't imagine," worried Miss Dalmatian.

"What are we going to do about it?" gabbed Mister Magpie.

"Appoint a committee?" reacted Miss Dalmatian, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Magpie had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," complained Miss Dalmatian recklessly, 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 Magpie steadily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," belched Miss Dalmatian strangely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on her front porch, looking out over the moonscape and whistling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Magpie. Do come again."

"Just a minute," barked Mister Magpie fearfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dalmatian sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied clumsily.