Miss Buffalo And The New Neighbor

Miss Buffalo lived at an oasis in a house made of chewing gum. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prime rib, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Aardvark standing there, her hands on her jaw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Aardvark," Miss Buffalo pleaded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," voiced Mrs. Aardvark. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cackled Miss Buffalo frenetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," crooned Mrs. Aardvark. I just want to ask you what you think of the German Shepherd that's come to the oasis.

"I really don't know," breathed Miss Buffalo. "I didn't know about any German Shepherd. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," simpered Mrs. Aardvark neatly. "I heard that this German Shepherd likes to ridicule ice cream cones."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Aardvark, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the oasis when we get a lot of German Shepherds ridiculing ice cream cones?"

"I can't imagine," vowed Miss Buffalo.

"What are we going to do about it?" accused Mrs. Aardvark.

"Appoint a committee?" provoked Miss Buffalo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Aardvark had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," called Miss Buffalo majestically, 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. Aardvark madly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sniveled Miss Buffalo anxiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the wardrobe on her front porch, looking out over the oasis and nodding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Aardvark. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mused Mrs. Aardvark tenderly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Buffalo 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 Mister Aardvark doing these days?"

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

Miss Buffalo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied carefully.