Miss Hippopotamus And The New Neighbor

Miss Hippopotamus lived on a veld in a Victorian mansion made of asbestos. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover shrimp, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Cow standing there, his hands on his midriff. "How nice to see you, Mister Cow," Miss Hippopotamus reminded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," alleged Mister Cow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" professed Miss Hippopotamus lightly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," thought Mister Cow. I just want to ask you what you think of the hippopotamus that's come to the veld.

"I really don't know," shrieked Miss Hippopotamus. "I didn't know about any hippopotamus. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," boomed Mister Cow curiously. "I heard that this hippopotamus likes to photograph Rubik's cubes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cow, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the veld when we get a lot of hippopotami photographing Rubik's cubes?"

"I can't imagine," informed Miss Hippopotamus.

"What are we going to do about it?" asserted Mister Cow.

"Appoint a committee?" recited Miss Hippopotamus, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cow had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," scoffed Miss Hippopotamus properly, 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 Cow brightly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," ranted Miss Hippopotamus strangely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on her front porch, looking out over the veld and swooning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cow. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blustered Mister Cow sternly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Hippopotamus sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied nonchalantly.