Miss Groundhog And The New Neighbor

Miss Groundhog lived on a hill in a boxcar made of rolled oats. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mashed potatoes, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Dachshund standing there, her hands on her face. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Dachshund," Miss Groundhog announced, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," appealed Mrs. Dachshund. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" barked Miss Groundhog quietly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of buttermilk?"

"I can't stay," avowed Mrs. Dachshund. I just want to ask you what you think of the grizzly bear that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," answered Miss Groundhog. "I didn't know about any grizzly bear. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hollered Mrs. Dachshund innocently. "I heard that this grizzly bear likes to split tops."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dachshund, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hill when we get a lot of grizzly bears splitting tops?"

"I can't imagine," observed Miss Groundhog.

"What are we going to do about it?" continued Mrs. Dachshund.

"Appoint a committee?" joked Miss Groundhog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dachshund had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," added Miss Groundhog courageously, 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. Dachshund defiantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," contended Miss Groundhog joyously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bench on her front porch, looking out over the hill and squealing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dachshund. Do come again."

"Just a minute," maintained Mrs. Dachshund greedily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Groundhog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied shakily.