Miss Basset Hound And The New Neighbor

Miss Basset hound lived in a village in a skyscraper made of rock. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister German Shepherd standing there, his hands on his funny bone. "How nice to see you, Mister German Shepherd," Miss Basset hound pronounced, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," cried Mister German Shepherd. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blathered Miss Basset hound menacingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Irish Coffee?"

"I can't stay," interrupted Mister German Shepherd. I just want to ask you what you think of the shrew that's come to the village.

"I really don't know," conversed Miss Basset hound. "I didn't know about any shrew. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," winked Mister German Shepherd ferociously. "I heard that this shrew likes to stain dog biscuits."

"Um, I don't know what to say," wept Miss Basset hound, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister German Shepherd, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the village when we get a lot of shrews staining dog biscuits?"

"I can't imagine," hollered Miss Basset hound.

"What are we going to do about it?" intimated Mister German Shepherd.

"Appoint a committee?" enunciated Miss Basset hound, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister German Shepherd had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister German Shepherd despondently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," fumed Miss Basset hound slowly, 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 German Shepherd dubiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," groveled Miss Basset hound gently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hope chest on her front porch, looking out over the village and collapsing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister German Shepherd. Do come again."

"Just a minute," disputed Mister German Shepherd nervously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Basset hound sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied confidently.