Mister Cow And The New Neighbor

Mister Cow lived on a veld in a chateau made of old rags. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prune pudding, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Newt standing there, her hands on her neck. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Newt," Mister Cow cajoled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," imitated Mrs. Newt. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sneered Mister Cow grandly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom Collins?"

"I can't stay," judged Mrs. Newt. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolf that's come to the veld.

"I really don't know," began Mister Cow. "I didn't know about any wolf. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," pleaded Mrs. Newt cautiously. "I heard that this wolf likes to shrink rulers."

"Um, I don't know what to say," giggled Mister Cow, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Newt, 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 wolves shrinking rulers?"

"I can't imagine," yawned Mister Cow.

"What are we going to do about it?" provoked Mrs. Newt.

"Appoint a committee?" vouched Mister Cow, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Newt had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Newt unexpectedly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," emphasized Mister Cow gingerly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Newt busily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," expressed Mister Cow pityingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on his front porch, looking out over the veld and getting sleepy. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Newt. Do come again."

"Just a minute," retorted Mrs. Newt breathlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Cow thought he had answered, and was beginning to get fearless. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Newt doing these days?"

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

Mister Cow sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied arrogantly.