Miss Poodle And The New Neighbor

Miss Poodle lived on the gully in an apartment made of old bottles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried eggs, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Dromedary standing there, his hands on his pancreas. "How nice to see you, Mister Dromedary," Miss Poodle cajoled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," snarled Mister Dromedary. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sneered Miss Poodle glumly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Alka-Seltzer?"

"I can't stay," burbled Mister Dromedary. I just want to ask you what you think of the toad that's come to the gully.

"I really don't know," groveled Miss Poodle. "I didn't know about any toad. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," expressed Mister Dromedary patiently. "I heard that this toad likes to mend Happy Meals."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Dromedary, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gully when we get a lot of toads mending Happy Meals?"

"I can't imagine," announced Miss Poodle.

"What are we going to do about it?" blustered Mister Dromedary.

"Appoint a committee?" screeched Miss Poodle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dromedary had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," piped up Miss Poodle flightily, 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 Dromedary madly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," thought Miss Poodle woefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on her front porch, looking out over the gully and apologizing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dromedary. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shrieked Mister Dromedary peevishly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Poodle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied properly.