Miss Meerkat And The New Neighbor

Miss Meerkat lived beside a river in a wikiup made of porcelain. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crab rangoon, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Lovebird standing there, his hands on his intestine. "How nice to see you, Mister Lovebird," Miss Meerkat belched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," howled Mister Lovebird. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" recited Miss Meerkat sternly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Seven and Seven?"

"I can't stay," blurted Mister Lovebird. I just want to ask you what you think of the ox that's come to the river.

"I really don't know," moaned Miss Meerkat. "I didn't know about any ox. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," announced Mister Lovebird calmly. "I heard that this ox likes to pulverize dollhouses."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Lovebird, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the river when we get a lot of oxen pulverizing dollhouses?"

"I can't imagine," provoked Miss Meerkat.

"What are we going to do about it?" sputtered Mister Lovebird.

"Appoint a committee?" articulated Miss Meerkat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lovebird had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," begged Miss Meerkat resignedly, 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 Lovebird later. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blustered Miss Meerkat boldly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the buffet on her front porch, looking out over the river and scribbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lovebird. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reacted Mister Lovebird curiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Meerkat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied boldly.