Miss German Shepherd And The New Neighbor

Miss German Shepherd lived alongside a stream in a mansion made of papier-mâché. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover scrambled eggs, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Worm standing there, his hands on his nose. "How nice to see you, Mister Worm," Miss German Shepherd drawled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squealed Mister Worm. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," shrieked Mister Worm. I just want to ask you what you think of the horsie that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," called Miss German Shepherd. "I didn't know about any horsie. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," voiced Mister Worm brashly. "I heard that this horsie likes to ignore bedpans."

"Um, I don't know what to say," boomed Miss German Shepherd, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Worm, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of horsies ignoring bedpans?"

"I can't imagine," laughed Miss German Shepherd.

"What are we going to do about it?" offered Mister Worm.

"Appoint a committee?" inquired Miss German Shepherd, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Worm had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," comforted Miss German Shepherd nimbly, 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 Worm effortlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hissed Miss German Shepherd numbly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the stream and snarling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Worm. Do come again."

"Just a minute," persisted Mister Worm blindly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss German Shepherd sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied wearily.