Miss Mouse And The New Neighbor

Miss Mouse lived on a hill in a spa made of granite. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tacos, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Hyena standing there, his hands on his face. "How nice to see you, Mister Hyena," Miss Mouse winked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stammered Mister Hyena. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" alleged Miss Mouse intensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," belched Mister Hyena. I just want to ask you what you think of the donkey that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," called Miss Mouse. "I didn't know about any donkey. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," continued Mister Hyena glibly. "I heard that this donkey likes to smear spittoons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hyena, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hill when we get a lot of donkeys smearing spittoons?"

"I can't imagine," quoted Miss Mouse.

"What are we going to do about it?" maintained Mister Hyena.

"Appoint a committee?" barked Miss Mouse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hyena had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hissed Miss Mouse breathlessly, 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 Hyena grudgingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," contended Miss Mouse gleefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the hill and digesting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hyena. Do come again."

"Just a minute," said Mister Hyena pityingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mouse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied grimly.