Miss Polecat And The New Neighbor

Miss Polecat lived at an oasis in a cabin made of silver. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken gumbo, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Dingo standing there, his hands on his eyebrow. "How nice to see you, Mister Dingo," Miss Polecat sputtered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," commented Mister Dingo. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yawned Miss Polecat ferociously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of Sanka?"

"I can't stay," blustered Mister Dingo. I just want to ask you what you think of the cobra that's come to the oasis.

"I really don't know," screamed Miss Polecat. "I didn't know about any cobra. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yammered Mister Dingo gingerly. "I heard that this cobra likes to moisten pearls."

"Um, I don't know what to say," pointed out Miss Polecat, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Dingo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the oasis when we get a lot of cobras moistening pearls?"

"I can't imagine," expressed Miss Polecat.

"What are we going to do about it?" sniveled Mister Dingo.

"Appoint a committee?" peeped Miss Polecat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dingo had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," insisted Miss Polecat calmly, 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 Dingo hastily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," questioned Miss Polecat defiantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the display case on her front porch, looking out over the oasis and breathing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dingo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," piped up Mister Dingo peevishly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Polecat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied patiently.