Miss Elephant And The New Neighbor

Miss Elephant lived in a cave in a mansion made of roots. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover waffles, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Polecat standing there, his hands on his thigh. "How nice to see you, Mister Polecat," Miss Elephant shouted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," giggled Mister Polecat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blathered Miss Elephant sternly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," sniffed Mister Polecat. I just want to ask you what you think of the poodle that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," implored Miss Elephant. "I didn't know about any poodle. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," stated Mister Polecat energetically. "I heard that this poodle likes to hack bottles of painkillers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Polecat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of poodles hacking bottles of painkillers?"

"I can't imagine," judged Miss Elephant.

"What are we going to do about it?" rumored Mister Polecat.

"Appoint a committee?" piped up Miss Elephant, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Polecat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," questioned Miss Elephant rapidly, 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 Polecat merrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," raved Miss Elephant fearfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on her front porch, looking out over the cave and hollering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Polecat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shouted Mister Polecat wearily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Elephant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied ruefully.