Miss Gila Monster And The New Neighbor

Miss Gila monster lived in a pasture in a trailer made of hay. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fish and chips, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Dragon standing there, his hands on his waist. "How nice to see you, Mister Dragon," Miss Gila monster murmured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," answered Mister Dragon. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" proposed Miss Gila monster nonchalantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cambric tea?"

"I can't stay," contended Mister Dragon. I just want to ask you what you think of the spider that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," hummed Miss Gila monster. "I didn't know about any spider. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sniveled Mister Dragon sourly. "I heard that this spider likes to reposition telephones."

"Um, I don't know what to say," squealed Miss Gila monster, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Dragon, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of spiders repositioning telephones?"

"I can't imagine," stated Miss Gila monster.

"What are we going to do about it?" drawled Mister Dragon.

"Appoint a committee?" indicated Miss Gila monster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dragon had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," alleged Miss Gila monster 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 Dragon carelessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," brought up Miss Gila monster tenderly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the rocking chair on her front porch, looking out over the pasture and quivering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dragon. Do come again."

"Just a minute," burbled Mister Dragon charmingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Gila monster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied blissfully.