Miss Chihuahua And The New Neighbor

Miss Chihuahua lived in a neighborhood in a cabin made of sod. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pot roast, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Gazelle standing there, his hands on his palm. "How nice to see you, Mister Gazelle," Miss Chihuahua cajoled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," noted Mister Gazelle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" responded Miss Chihuahua wearily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bacardi?"

"I can't stay," voiced Mister Gazelle. I just want to ask you what you think of the goldfish that's come to the neighborhood.

"I really don't know," shuddered Miss Chihuahua. "I didn't know about any goldfish. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," stuttered Mister Gazelle surreptitiously. "I heard that this goldfish likes to hack Big Gulps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gazelle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the neighborhood when we get a lot of goldfish hacking Big Gulps?"

"I can't imagine," instructed Miss Chihuahua.

"What are we going to do about it?" judged Mister Gazelle.

"Appoint a committee?" wailed Miss Chihuahua, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gazelle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," added Miss Chihuahua softly, 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 Gazelle joyously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hinted Miss Chihuahua delicately, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the washstand on her front porch, looking out over the neighborhood and puffing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gazelle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," nattered Mister Gazelle quickly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Chihuahua sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied truculently.