Miss Ostrich And The New Neighbor

Miss Ostrich lived on a grassy knoll in a ranch house made of platinum. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tacos, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Ox standing there, her hands on her hip. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ox," Miss Ostrich nattered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," croaked Mrs. Ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" tittered Miss Ostrich innocently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a secret potion?"

"I can't stay," squeaked Mrs. Ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the kangaroo that's come to the grassy knoll.

"I really don't know," appealed Miss Ostrich. "I didn't know about any kangaroo. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," preached Mrs. Ox quickly. "I heard that this kangaroo likes to stain Barbie dolls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassy knoll when we get a lot of kangaroos staining Barbie dolls?"

"I can't imagine," informed Miss Ostrich.

"What are we going to do about it?" noted Mrs. Ox.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," called Miss Ostrich gratefully, 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. Ox wildly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," bellowed Miss Ostrich boisterously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the TV on her front porch, looking out over the grassy knoll and slobbering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," pointed out Mrs. Ox trustingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ostrich sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied boisterously.