Miss Mule And The New Neighbor

Miss Mule lived in a lagoon in a quonset hut made of old bones. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast beef, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Elephant standing there, her hands on her hangnail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Elephant," Miss Mule warbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," groaned Mrs. Elephant. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" simpered Miss Mule silently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a secret potion?"

"I can't stay," nattered Mrs. Elephant. I just want to ask you what you think of the dragon that's come to the lagoon.

"I really don't know," chattered Miss Mule. "I didn't know about any dragon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sniveled Mrs. Elephant dolefully. "I heard that this dragon likes to vacuum bowling balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Elephant, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lagoon when we get a lot of dragons vacuuming bowling balls?"

"I can't imagine," demanded Miss Mule.

"What are we going to do about it?" screeched Mrs. Elephant.

"Appoint a committee?" persisted Miss Mule, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Elephant had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," vouched Miss Mule suspiciously, 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. Elephant lamely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," roared Miss Mule cruelly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on her front porch, looking out over the lagoon and sniffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Elephant. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chortled Mrs. Elephant positively. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mule sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied speedily.