Miss Mule And The New Neighbor

Miss Mule lived in a gully in a parsonage made of money. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hot dogs, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Troll standing there, his hands on his brain. "How nice to see you, Mister Troll," Miss Mule blurted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," laughed Mister Troll. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reacted Miss Mule solemnly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apple juice?"

"I can't stay," remarked Mister Troll. I just want to ask you what you think of the coyote that's come to the gully.

"I really don't know," mentioned Miss Mule. "I didn't know about any coyote. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," babbled Mister Troll uselessly. "I heard that this coyote likes to demolish primroses."

"Um, I don't know what to say," spoke up Miss Mule, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Troll, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gully when we get a lot of coyotes demolishing primroses?"

"I can't imagine," reminded Miss Mule.

"What are we going to do about it?" voiced Mister Troll.

"Appoint a committee?" shuddered Miss Mule, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Troll had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," realized Miss Mule dolefully, 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 Troll charmingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sputtered Miss Mule again, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the armoire on her front porch, looking out over the gully and doing the Hokey Pokey. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Troll. Do come again."

"Just a minute," barked Mister Troll gruffly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mule sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied briskly.