Miss Dingo And The New Neighbor

Miss Dingo lived at an oasis in a homeless shelter made of sweat and toil. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tortillas, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bullfrog standing there, his hands on his bicep. "How nice to see you, Mister Bullfrog," Miss Dingo insisted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," protested Mister Bullfrog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" brought up Miss Dingo caustically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a painkiller?"

"I can't stay," spat Mister Bullfrog. I just want to ask you what you think of the partridge that's come to the oasis.

"I really don't know," sneered Miss Dingo. "I didn't know about any partridge. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," barked Mister Bullfrog roughly. "I heard that this partridge likes to kiss paperclips."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bullfrog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the oasis when we get a lot of partridges kissing paperclips?"

"I can't imagine," lectured Miss Dingo.

"What are we going to do about it?" responded Mister Bullfrog.

"Appoint a committee?" spat Miss Dingo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bullfrog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spat Miss Dingo temperamentally, 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 Bullfrog automatically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," tittered Miss Dingo gleefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the counter on her front porch, looking out over the oasis and lying down. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bullfrog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," uttered Mister Bullfrog majestically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dingo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied peevishly.