Miss Sheep And The New Neighbor

Miss Sheep lived on a mountaintop in a ranch house made of sod. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Puma standing there, her hands on her calf. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Puma," Miss Sheep sputtered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," disputed Mrs. Puma. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" revealed Miss Sheep strangely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," blathered Mrs. Puma. I just want to ask you what you think of the dromedary that's come to the mountaintop.

"I really don't know," shuddered Miss Sheep. "I didn't know about any dromedary. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," murmured Mrs. Puma tenderly. "I heard that this dromedary likes to brandish clams."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Puma, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountaintop when we get a lot of dromedaries brandishing clams?"

"I can't imagine," responded Miss Sheep.

"What are we going to do about it?" grieved Mrs. Puma.

"Appoint a committee?" sniffed Miss Sheep, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Puma had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Puma demurely. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," asked Miss Sheep strangely, 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 Mrs. Puma innocently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," began Miss Sheep valiantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the crib on her front porch, looking out over the mountaintop and throwing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Puma. Do come again."

"Just a minute," roared Mrs. Puma fearlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Sheep sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied stealthily.