Miss Puppy And The New Neighbor

Miss Puppy lived on a plain in a cave made of fairy dust. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken gumbo, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yelped Miss Puppy patiently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," rebutted Mister Lemur. I just want to ask you what you think of the bullfrog that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," taunted Miss Puppy. "I didn't know about any bullfrog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," invited Mister Lemur deliberately. "I heard that this bullfrog likes to cut pens."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Lemur, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of bullfrogs cutting pens?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" stated Mister Lemur.

"Appoint a committee?" judged Miss Puppy, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lemur had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," simpered Miss Puppy despondently, 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 Lemur nicely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," piped up Miss Puppy pitifully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the plain and showing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lemur. Do come again."

"Just a minute," giggled Mister Lemur haughtily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Lemur 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 daringly.