Miss Burro And The New Neighbor

Miss Burro lived in a pasture in a townhouse made of dreams and visions. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pie a la mode, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister German Shepherd standing there, his hands on his face. "How nice to see you, Mister German Shepherd," Miss Burro panted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," appealed Mister German Shepherd. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" began Miss Burro warily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," guessed Mister German Shepherd. I just want to ask you what you think of the beaver that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," pointed out Miss Burro. "I didn't know about any beaver. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," tittered Mister German Shepherd accidentally. "I heard that this beaver likes to analyze biscuits."

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

"Well I do," said Mister German Shepherd, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of beavers analyzing biscuits?"

"I can't imagine," swore Miss Burro.

"What are we going to do about it?" joked Mister German Shepherd.

"Appoint a committee?" uttered Miss Burro, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister German Shepherd had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister German Shepherd majestically. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," debated Miss Burro nonchalantly, 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 German Shepherd blankly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," griped Miss Burro roughly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on her front porch, looking out over the pasture and talking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister German Shepherd. Do come again."

"Just a minute," lectured Mister German Shepherd lamely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Burro sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied needlessly.