Miss Tiger And The New Neighbor

Miss Tiger lived in a buffalo wallow in a mobile home made of porcelain. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover bread and butter, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Dog standing there, her hands on her thumb. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Dog," Miss Tiger sneered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," bragged Mrs. Dog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" squawked Miss Tiger blankly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a V8?"

"I can't stay," lamented Mrs. Dog. I just want to ask you what you think of the toad that's come to the buffalo wallow.

"I really don't know," interpreted Miss Tiger. "I didn't know about any toad. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," declared Mrs. Dog stealthily. "I heard that this toad likes to rebuild stones."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the buffalo wallow when we get a lot of toads rebuilding stones?"

"I can't imagine," observed Miss Tiger.

"What are we going to do about it?" mumbled Mrs. Dog.

"Appoint a committee?" roared Miss Tiger, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," muttered Miss Tiger violently, 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. Dog charmingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," called Miss Tiger happily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and jerking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," insisted Mrs. Dog glumly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Tiger sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied vigorously.