Miss Dolphin And The New Neighbor

Miss Dolphin lived in a hayfield in a tent made of Tyvek. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Meerkat standing there, his hands on his esophagus. "How nice to see you, Mister Meerkat," Miss Dolphin groaned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," clarified Mister Meerkat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pointed out Miss Dolphin grimly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a daiquiri?"

"I can't stay," giggled Mister Meerkat. I just want to ask you what you think of the buffalo that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," chimed Miss Dolphin. "I didn't know about any buffalo. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," began Mister Meerkat menacingly. "I heard that this buffalo likes to pat yo-yos."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Meerkat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of buffalo patting yo-yos?"

"I can't imagine," brought up Miss Dolphin.

"What are we going to do about it?" worried Mister Meerkat.

"Appoint a committee?" griped Miss Dolphin, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Meerkat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bawled Miss Dolphin busily, 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 Meerkat despondently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," winked Miss Dolphin sleepily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and blushing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Meerkat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intoned Mister Meerkat confidently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dolphin sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied shyly.