Miss Chihuahua And The New Neighbor

Miss Chihuahua lived on a ridge in a hovel made of steel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover brownies, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Canary standing there, her hands on her chest. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Canary," Miss Chihuahua suggested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," hummed Mrs. Canary. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spewed Miss Chihuahua gracefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an iced tea?"

"I can't stay," croaked Mrs. Canary. I just want to ask you what you think of the troll that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," argued Miss Chihuahua. "I didn't know about any troll. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," fantasized Mrs. Canary strictly. "I heard that this troll likes to reject cowbells."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Canary, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of trolls rejecting cowbells?"

"I can't imagine," shrieked Miss Chihuahua.

"What are we going to do about it?" yelled Mrs. Canary.

"Appoint a committee?" decided Miss Chihuahua, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Canary had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," screamed Miss Chihuahua unexpectedly, 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. Canary sharply. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," grunted Miss Chihuahua silently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the crib on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and coming to. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Canary. Do come again."

"Just a minute," judged Mrs. Canary sharply. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Chihuahua sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied hungrily.