Miss Puppy And The New Neighbor

Miss Puppy lived at an oasis in a cardboard box made of ashes. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover corn on the cob, 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. Goose standing there, her hands on her funny bone. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Goose," Miss Puppy amended, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," continued Mrs. Goose. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" mumbled Miss Puppy positively, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Scotch and soda?"

"I can't stay," joked Mrs. Goose. I just want to ask you what you think of the lamb that's come to the oasis.

"I really don't know," shouted Miss Puppy. "I didn't know about any lamb. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," gasped Mrs. Goose frantically. "I heard that this lamb likes to play with toolboxes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Goose, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the oasis when we get a lot of lambs playing with toolboxes?"

"I can't imagine," warbled Miss Puppy.

"What are we going to do about it?" reminded Mrs. Goose.

"Appoint a committee?" cackled Miss Puppy, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Goose had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," indicated Miss Puppy happily, 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. Goose crossly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," thought Miss Puppy primly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hammock on her front porch, looking out over the oasis and panting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Goose. Do come again."

"Just a minute," guessed Mrs. Goose curiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Puppy sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied carefully.