Miss Pekingese And The New Neighbor

Miss Pekingese lived alongside a stream in a studio made of titanium. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beans, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Cougar standing there, her hands on her pinky. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cougar," Miss Pekingese boasted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sputtered Mrs. Cougar. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" called Miss Pekingese gruffly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mojito?"

"I can't stay," provoked Mrs. Cougar. I just want to ask you what you think of the louse that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," muttered Miss Pekingese. "I didn't know about any louse. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," belched Mrs. Cougar craftily. "I heard that this louse likes to label padlocks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cougar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of lice labeling padlocks?"

"I can't imagine," rambled Miss Pekingese.

"What are we going to do about it?" spat Mrs. Cougar.

"Appoint a committee?" complained Miss Pekingese, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cougar had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," indicated Miss Pekingese narrowly, 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. Cougar curiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rambled Miss Pekingese openly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the buffet on her front porch, looking out over the stream and shaking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cougar. Do come again."

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

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

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

Miss Pekingese sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sweetly.