Miss Llama And The New Neighbor

Miss Llama lived in a meadow in a cave made of wool. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mashed potatoes, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Gecko standing there, his hands on his tail. "How nice to see you, Mister Gecko," Miss Llama chortled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pointed out Mister Gecko. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" instructed Miss Llama daringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of eggnog?"

"I can't stay," brought up Mister Gecko. I just want to ask you what you think of the beagle that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," taunted Miss Llama. "I didn't know about any beagle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," uttered Mister Gecko humbly. "I heard that this beagle likes to score fishhooks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gecko, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the meadow when we get a lot of beagles scoring fishhooks?"

"I can't imagine," imitated Miss Llama.

"What are we going to do about it?" sniffed Mister Gecko.

"Appoint a committee?" rambled Miss Llama, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gecko had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," squawked Miss Llama strictly, 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 Gecko hastily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chuckled Miss Llama speedily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the rug on her front porch, looking out over the meadow and jerking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gecko. Do come again."

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

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

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

Miss Llama sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied impatiently.