Miss Horsie And The New Neighbor

Miss Horsie lived in a briar patch in a subway tunnel made of rope. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Goose standing there, her hands on her esophagus. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Goose," Miss Horsie panted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squealed Mrs. Goose. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" explained Miss Horsie gingerly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of buttermilk?"

"I can't stay," questioned Mrs. Goose. I just want to ask you what you think of the doggie that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," blustered Miss Horsie. "I didn't know about any doggie. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mouthed Mrs. Goose blissfully. "I heard that this doggie likes to drench spoons."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Goose, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of doggies drenching spoons?"

"I can't imagine," purred Miss Horsie.

"What are we going to do about it?" purred Mrs. Goose.

"Appoint a committee?" rebutted Miss Horsie, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Goose had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rambled Miss Horsie sympathetically, 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. Goose strangely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," winked Miss Horsie oddly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bathtub on her front porch, looking out over the briar patch and scribbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Goose. Do come again."

"Just a minute," opined Mrs. Goose shyly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Horsie sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied solemnly.