Miss Pekingese And The New Neighbor

Miss Pekingese lived on a mountaintop in a palace made of cards. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pretzels, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Iguana standing there, his hands on his appendix. "How nice to see you, Mister Iguana," Miss Pekingese sniffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pleaded Mister Iguana. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" clarified Miss Pekingese automatically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a grape soda?"

"I can't stay," reacted Mister Iguana. I just want to ask you what you think of the Guinea pig that's come to the mountaintop.

"I really don't know," mumbled Miss Pekingese. "I didn't know about any Guinea pig. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," noted Mister Iguana offhandedly. "I heard that this Guinea pig likes to experience cans of sardines."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Iguana, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountaintop when we get a lot of Guinea pigs experiencing cans of sardines?"

"I can't imagine," swore Miss Pekingese.

"What are we going to do about it?" peeped Mister Iguana.

"Appoint a committee?" sniped Miss Pekingese, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Iguana had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stormed Miss Pekingese fearlessly, 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 Iguana courageously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," acknowledged Miss Pekingese busily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on her front porch, looking out over the mountaintop and fretting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Iguana. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blurted Mister Iguana sweetly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Pekingese 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 Mrs. Iguana doing these days?"

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

Miss Pekingese sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied ferociously.