Miss Dalmatian And The New Neighbor

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

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" simpered Miss Dalmatian warily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Dr. Pepper?"

"I can't stay," lectured Mister Guinea pig. I just want to ask you what you think of the goat that's come to the range.

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

"Well don't be so sure," reasoned Mister Guinea pig tensely. "I heard that this goat likes to admire campaign signs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Guinea pig, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of goats admiring campaign signs?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" blustered Mister Guinea pig.

"Appoint a committee?" snarled Miss Dalmatian, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Guinea pig had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Guinea pig diligently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," boomed Miss Dalmatian blissfully, 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 Guinea pig shakily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chuckled Miss Dalmatian craftily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ironing board on her front porch, looking out over the range and lying down. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Guinea pig. Do come again."

"Just a minute," admitted Mister Guinea pig vacantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Guinea pig 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 roughly.