Miss Dormouse And The New Neighbor

Miss Dormouse lived at a lakeside in a Victorian mansion made of sheet metal. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover popcorn, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Hippopotamus standing there, his hands on his hip. "How nice to see you, Mister Hippopotamus," Miss Dormouse snorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," jeered Mister Hippopotamus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hollered Miss Dormouse effortlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bud Lite?"

"I can't stay," gabbed Mister Hippopotamus. I just want to ask you what you think of the dingo that's come to the lakeside.

"I really don't know," groaned Miss Dormouse. "I didn't know about any dingo. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," fumed Mister Hippopotamus thoughtfully. "I heard that this dingo likes to strengthen flags."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hippopotamus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lakeside when we get a lot of dingoes strengthening flags?"

"I can't imagine," panted Miss Dormouse.

"What are we going to do about it?" sniffed Mister Hippopotamus.

"Appoint a committee?" smirked Miss Dormouse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hippopotamus had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," intoned Miss Dormouse again, 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 Hippopotamus dreamily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," asserted Miss Dormouse daintily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on her front porch, looking out over the lakeside and wobbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hippopotamus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," urged Mister Hippopotamus resignedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dormouse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied bravely.