Miss Poodle And The New Neighbor

Miss Poodle lived in a forest in a sod house made of brass. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lime sherbet, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Snipe standing there, her hands on her toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Snipe," Miss Poodle joked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," raved Mrs. Snipe. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" taunted Miss Poodle boisterously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," opined Mrs. Snipe. I just want to ask you what you think of the cockroach that's come to the forest.

"I really don't know," yowled Miss Poodle. "I didn't know about any cockroach. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," worried Mrs. Snipe flightily. "I heard that this cockroach likes to slice coat hangers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Snipe, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the forest when we get a lot of cockroaches slicing coat hangers?"

"I can't imagine," protested Miss Poodle.

"What are we going to do about it?" raved Mrs. Snipe.

"Appoint a committee?" responded Miss Poodle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Snipe had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," groveled Miss Poodle tenderly, 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. Snipe patiently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," complained Miss Poodle dolefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ironing board on her front porch, looking out over the forest and grunting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Snipe. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blurted Mrs. Snipe testily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Poodle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied irritably.