Miss Cocker Spaniel And The New Neighbor

Miss Cocker spaniel lived in a circus tent in a cottage made of ashes. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pizza, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Sloth standing there, his hands on his hairdo. "How nice to see you, Mister Sloth," Miss Cocker spaniel babbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," queried Mister Sloth. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" contended Miss Cocker spaniel grudgingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a piña colada?"

"I can't stay," argued Mister Sloth. I just want to ask you what you think of the bison that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," sighed Miss Cocker spaniel. "I didn't know about any bison. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," fretted Mister Sloth vigorously. "I heard that this bison likes to plasticize avocados."

"Um, I don't know what to say," simpered Miss Cocker spaniel, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Sloth, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of bison plasticizing avocados?"

"I can't imagine," concluded Miss Cocker spaniel.

"What are we going to do about it?" shuddered Mister Sloth.

"Appoint a committee?" chuckled Miss Cocker spaniel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Sloth had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," said Miss Cocker spaniel patiently, 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 Sloth briskly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," phrased Miss Cocker spaniel unnaturally, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on her front porch, looking out over the circus tent and bleeding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Sloth. Do come again."

"Just a minute," articulated Mister Sloth admiringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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