Miss Elk And The New Neighbor

Miss Elk lived in a desert in a spa made of taffy. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover spaghetti, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Zebra standing there, her hands on her arm. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Zebra," Miss Elk interrupted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," continued Mrs. Zebra. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chimed Miss Elk demurely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Moscow mule?"

"I can't stay," remarked Mrs. Zebra. I just want to ask you what you think of the dolphin that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," asserted Miss Elk. "I didn't know about any dolphin. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," persisted Mrs. Zebra deliberately. "I heard that this dolphin likes to decorate spittoons."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Zebra, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of dolphins decorating spittoons?"

"I can't imagine," trumpeted Miss Elk.

"What are we going to do about it?" blurted Mrs. Zebra.

"Appoint a committee?" blathered Miss Elk, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Zebra had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chanted Miss Elk happily, 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. Zebra defiantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," professed Miss Elk wryly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pool table on her front porch, looking out over the desert and fretting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Zebra. Do come again."

"Just a minute," responded Mrs. Zebra gruffly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Elk sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied trustingly.