Miss Horse And The New Neighbor

Miss Horse lived at a seashore in a villa made of bones. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ravioli, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Lion standing there, his hands on his wig. "How nice to see you, Mister Lion," Miss Horse crooned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," admitted Mister Lion. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spouted Miss Horse fervently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gimlet?"

"I can't stay," hinted Mister Lion. I just want to ask you what you think of the Siamese cat that's come to the seashore.

"I really don't know," smiled Miss Horse. "I didn't know about any Siamese cat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," instructed Mister Lion daringly. "I heard that this Siamese cat likes to throw dead shrews."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Lion, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seashore when we get a lot of Siamese cats throwing dead shrews?"

"I can't imagine," smiled Miss Horse.

"What are we going to do about it?" nattered Mister Lion.

"Appoint a committee?" informed Miss Horse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lion had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," observed Miss Horse cheerfully, 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 Lion grandly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," suggested Miss Horse awkwardly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the desk on her front porch, looking out over the seashore and rocking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lion. Do come again."

"Just a minute," expressed Mister Lion strictly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Horse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied caustically.