Miss Boar And The New Neighbor

Miss Boar lived in a gulch in a trailer made of masonry. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cookies, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Quail standing there, her hands on her front tooth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Quail," Miss Boar inquired, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," emphasized Mrs. Quail. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" asked Miss Boar speedily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," grieved Mrs. Quail. I just want to ask you what you think of the dolphin that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," indicated Miss Boar. "I didn't know about any dolphin. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hinted Mrs. Quail despondently. "I heard that this dolphin likes to switch ropes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Quail, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of dolphins switching ropes?"

"I can't imagine," mumbled Miss Boar.

"What are we going to do about it?" thought Mrs. Quail.

"Appoint a committee?" protested Miss Boar, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Quail had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," requested Miss Boar urgently, 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. Quail innocently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," debated Miss Boar defiantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bench on her front porch, looking out over the gulch and pondering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Quail. Do come again."

"Just a minute," guessed Mrs. Quail despondently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Boar sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gratefully.