Miss Bull And The New Neighbor

Miss Bull lived on a mountain in a barracks made of sawdust. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover enchiladas, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Ox standing there, his hands on his elbow. "How nice to see you, Mister Ox," Miss Bull brought up, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whined Mister Ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" croaked Miss Bull nimbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," blathered Mister Ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the tapeworm that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," yelped Miss Bull. "I didn't know about any tapeworm. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," scoffed Mister Ox grimly. "I heard that this tapeworm likes to score towels."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of tapeworms scoring towels?"

"I can't imagine," avowed Miss Bull.

"What are we going to do about it?" roared Mister Ox.

"Appoint a committee?" screamed Miss Bull, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ox had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," protested Miss Bull needlessly, 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 Ox angrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reminded Miss Bull joyously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the four-poster bed on her front porch, looking out over the mountain and running away. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wondered Mister Ox threateningly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Bull sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sheepishly.