Miss Camel And The New Neighbor

Miss Camel lived on the wasteland in a bungalow made of sawdust. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover potatoes and gravy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Mule standing there, her hands on her toenail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mule," Miss Camel argued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," phrased Mrs. Mule. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" shrieked Miss Camel speedily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Sangría?"

"I can't stay," intoned Mrs. Mule. I just want to ask you what you think of the camel that's come to the wasteland.

"I really don't know," sneered Miss Camel. "I didn't know about any camel. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," disputed Mrs. Mule nonchalantly. "I heard that this camel likes to observe packages."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mule, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the wasteland when we get a lot of camels observing packages?"

"I can't imagine," raved Miss Camel.

"What are we going to do about it?" clarified Mrs. Mule.

"Appoint a committee?" giggled Miss Camel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mule had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," boomed Miss Camel warmly, 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. Mule clumsily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," answered Miss Camel dolorously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bookshelf on her front porch, looking out over the wasteland and sniffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mule. Do come again."

"Just a minute," boomed Mrs. Mule oddly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Camel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied elatedly.