Miss Ox And The New Neighbor

Miss Ox lived in a desert in a geodesic dome made of toothpicks. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sauerkraut, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Cocker spaniel standing there, her hands on her foot. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cocker spaniel," Miss Ox added, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," began Mrs. Cocker spaniel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" piped up Miss Ox ingeniously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of buttermilk?"

"I can't stay," barked Mrs. Cocker spaniel. I just want to ask you what you think of the cockatiel that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," simpered Miss Ox. "I didn't know about any cockatiel. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," expressed Mrs. Cocker spaniel vacantly. "I heard that this cockatiel likes to load dictionaries."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cocker spaniel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of cockatiels loading dictionaries?"

"I can't imagine," remarked Miss Ox.

"What are we going to do about it?" shuddered Mrs. Cocker spaniel.

"Appoint a committee?" babbled Miss Ox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cocker spaniel had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Cocker spaniel sourly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," rebutted Miss Ox jokingly, 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. Cocker spaniel obediently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," roared Miss Ox gleefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the four-poster bed on her front porch, looking out over the desert and giggling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cocker spaniel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," voiced Mrs. Cocker spaniel calmly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ox sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied confidently.