Miss Beagle And The New Neighbor

Miss Beagle lived in a dumpster in a hovel made of tar. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Rhinoceros standing there, his hands on his hand. "How nice to see you, Mister Rhinoceros," Miss Beagle tittered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," queried Mister Rhinoceros. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" vouched Miss Beagle dubiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of bouillon?"

"I can't stay," realized Mister Rhinoceros. I just want to ask you what you think of the mustang that's come to the dumpster.

"I really don't know," quavered Miss Beagle. "I didn't know about any mustang. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," contended Mister Rhinoceros swiftly. "I heard that this mustang likes to remember toys."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Rhinoceros, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dumpster when we get a lot of mustangs remembering toys?"

"I can't imagine," quavered Miss Beagle.

"What are we going to do about it?" shrieked Mister Rhinoceros.

"Appoint a committee?" exclaimed Miss Beagle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Rhinoceros had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," giggled Miss Beagle trustingly, 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 Rhinoceros lazily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," harangued Miss Beagle blankly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on her front porch, looking out over the dumpster and wailing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Rhinoceros. Do come again."

"Just a minute," winked Mister Rhinoceros gratefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Beagle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied victoriously.