Miss Cow And The New Neighbor

Miss Cow lived beside a river in a mobile home made of marbles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Goat standing there, his hands on his hangnail. "How nice to see you, Mister Goat," Miss Cow imitated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," boasted Mister Goat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lamented Miss Cow victoriously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," emphasized Mister Goat. I just want to ask you what you think of the burro that's come to the river.

"I really don't know," bragged Miss Cow. "I didn't know about any burro. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sputtered Mister Goat crazily. "I heard that this burro likes to shellac crutches."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Goat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the river when we get a lot of burros shellacking crutches?"

"I can't imagine," yowled Miss Cow.

"What are we going to do about it?" whimpered Mister Goat.

"Appoint a committee?" offered Miss Cow, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Goat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," avowed Miss Cow openly, 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 Goat ingeniously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chattered Miss Cow confidently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on her front porch, looking out over the river and raising an eyebrow. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Goat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chimed Mister Goat properly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Cow sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied intensely.