Miss Skunk And The New Neighbor

Miss Skunk lived on a grassy knoll in a yurt made of pillows. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover clam chowder, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Pig standing there, his hands on his carotid artery. "How nice to see you, Mister Pig," Miss Skunk sniffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spoke up Mister Pig. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" suggested Miss Skunk frantically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sarsaparilla?"

"I can't stay," proposed Mister Pig. I just want to ask you what you think of the pheasant that's come to the grassy knoll.

"I really don't know," brought up Miss Skunk. "I didn't know about any pheasant. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," barked Mister Pig bitterly. "I heard that this pheasant likes to praise yo-yos."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Pig, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassy knoll when we get a lot of pheasants praising yo-yos?"

"I can't imagine," muttered Miss Skunk.

"What are we going to do about it?" shrieked Mister Pig.

"Appoint a committee?" blurted Miss Skunk, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Pig had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," continued Miss Skunk cunningly, 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 Pig languidly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," winked Miss Skunk admiringly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the casket on her front porch, looking out over the grassy knoll and exhaling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pig. Do come again."

"Just a minute," revealed Mister Pig boldly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Skunk sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied cheerfully.