Miss Deer And The New Neighbor

Miss Deer lived in a lagoon in a mansion made of rope. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. German Shepherd standing there, her hands on her shin. "How nice to see you, Mrs. German Shepherd," Miss Deer yammered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," announced Mrs. German Shepherd. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," accused Mrs. German Shepherd. I just want to ask you what you think of the whale that's come to the lagoon.

"I really don't know," enunciated Miss Deer. "I didn't know about any whale. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," concluded Mrs. German Shepherd suspiciously. "I heard that this whale likes to grasp toilet plungers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. German Shepherd, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lagoon when we get a lot of whales grasping toilet plungers?"

"I can't imagine," urged Miss Deer.

"What are we going to do about it?" pleaded Mrs. German Shepherd.

"Appoint a committee?" declared Miss Deer, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. German Shepherd had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. German Shepherd grudgingly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," agreed Miss Deer defiantly, 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 Mrs. German Shepherd cruelly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rambled Miss Deer sourly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the piano on her front porch, looking out over the lagoon and showing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. German Shepherd. Do come again."

"Just a minute," instructed Mrs. German Shepherd quietly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Deer thought she had answered, and was beginning to get amiable. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister German Shepherd doing these days?"

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

Miss Deer sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied ignobly.