Miss Prairie Dog And The New Neighbor

Miss Prairie dog lived in a forest in a subway tunnel made of cornstalks. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Frog standing there, her hands on her jaw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Frog," Miss Prairie dog yelled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," gabbed Mrs. Frog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" ranted Miss Prairie dog suspiciously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Manhattan?"

"I can't stay," rebutted Mrs. Frog. I just want to ask you what you think of the phantom that's come to the forest.

"I really don't know," raved Miss Prairie dog. "I didn't know about any phantom. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," said Mrs. Frog brashly. "I heard that this phantom likes to dispose of rocks."

"Um, I don't know what to say," sputtered Miss Prairie dog, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Frog, 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 phantoms disposing of rocks?"

"I can't imagine," smirked Miss Prairie dog.

"What are we going to do about it?" disputed Mrs. Frog.

"Appoint a committee?" screeched Miss Prairie dog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Frog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," harangued Miss Prairie dog cruelly, 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. Frog excitedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," began Miss Prairie dog victoriously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the china hutch on her front porch, looking out over the forest and glowering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Frog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stuttered Mrs. Frog thankfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Prairie dog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied charmingly.