Miss Butterfly And The New Neighbor

Miss Butterfly lived in a marsh in a trailer made of buffalo hides. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover banana split, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Horse standing there, her hands on her pride. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Horse," Miss Butterfly muttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," retorted Mrs. Horse. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cajoled Miss Butterfly energetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a whiskey?"

"I can't stay," spoke up Mrs. Horse. I just want to ask you what you think of the orangutan that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," imitated Miss Butterfly. "I didn't know about any orangutan. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," queried Mrs. Horse testily. "I heard that this orangutan likes to swipe cream puffs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Horse, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of orangutans swiping cream puffs?"

"I can't imagine," voiced Miss Butterfly.

"What are we going to do about it?" blurted Mrs. Horse.

"Appoint a committee?" whimpered Miss Butterfly, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Horse had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pronounced Miss Butterfly positively, 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. Horse sweetly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," brought up Miss Butterfly resignedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the wooden crate on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and sweating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Horse. Do come again."

"Just a minute," pleaded Mrs. Horse despondently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Butterfly sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied flightily.