Miss Cocker Spaniel And The New Neighbor

Miss Cocker spaniel lived in a pond in an office made of felt. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover scrambled eggs, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Yak standing there, his hands on his cheek. "How nice to see you, Mister Yak," Miss Cocker spaniel shuddered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," called Mister Yak. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" griped Miss Cocker spaniel quietly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a beer?"

"I can't stay," gabbed Mister Yak. I just want to ask you what you think of the zebra that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," divulged Miss Cocker spaniel. "I didn't know about any zebra. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," burbled Mister Yak defiantly. "I heard that this zebra likes to shake bicycles."

"Um, I don't know what to say," quavered Miss Cocker spaniel, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Yak, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of zebras shaking bicycles?"

"I can't imagine," laughed Miss Cocker spaniel.

"What are we going to do about it?" comforted Mister Yak.

"Appoint a committee?" whispered Miss Cocker spaniel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Yak had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Yak lickety-split. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," recited Miss Cocker spaniel wearily, 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 Yak surreptitiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," inquired Miss Cocker spaniel confidently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on her front porch, looking out over the pond and dealing cards. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Yak. Do come again."

"Just a minute," pointed out Mister Yak woefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Cocker spaniel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied deliberately.