Miss Hog And The New Neighbor

Miss Hog lived in a meadow in a skyscraper made of Elmer's glue. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dry toast, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Bullfrog standing there, her hands on her thigh. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bullfrog," Miss Hog fretted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squealed Mrs. Bullfrog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" expressed Miss Hog crankily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," professed Mrs. Bullfrog. I just want to ask you what you think of the giraffe that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," winked Miss Hog. "I didn't know about any giraffe. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," lectured Mrs. Bullfrog violently. "I heard that this giraffe likes to puncture bags of ice."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bullfrog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the meadow when we get a lot of giraffes puncturing bags of ice?"

"I can't imagine," gabbed Miss Hog.

"What are we going to do about it?" boomed Mrs. Bullfrog.

"Appoint a committee?" decided Miss Hog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bullfrog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," growled Miss Hog busily, 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. Bullfrog firmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chanted Miss Hog unnaturally, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the meadow and peeping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bullfrog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hissed Mrs. Bullfrog uselessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Hog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied cruelly.