Miss Dog And The New Neighbor

Miss Dog lived in an arroyo in a subway tunnel made of linen. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Froot Loops, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Cocker spaniel standing there, his hands on his funny bone. "How nice to see you, Mister Cocker spaniel," Miss Dog moaned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," interpreted Mister Cocker spaniel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" wondered Miss Dog boisterously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sarsaparilla?"

"I can't stay," yammered Mister Cocker spaniel. I just want to ask you what you think of the hog that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," enunciated Miss Dog. "I didn't know about any hog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rambled Mister Cocker spaniel awkwardly. "I heard that this hog likes to reject baskets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cocker spaniel, 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 hogs rejecting baskets?"

"I can't imagine," clarified Miss Dog.

"What are we going to do about it?" realized Mister Cocker spaniel.

"Appoint a committee?" commented Miss Dog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cocker spaniel had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Cocker spaniel daintily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," breathed Miss Dog testily, 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 Cocker spaniel dreamily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reacted Miss Dog nimbly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ping-pong table on her front porch, looking out over the arroyo and scratching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cocker spaniel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," raved Mister Cocker spaniel caustically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sagely.