Miss Lion And The New Neighbor

Miss Lion lived in a desert in a box made of stone. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Rhinoceros standing there, his hands on his thigh. "How nice to see you, Mister Rhinoceros," Miss Lion enunciated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," tittered Mister Rhinoceros. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" affirmed Miss Lion needlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chocolate milk?"

"I can't stay," spat Mister Rhinoceros. I just want to ask you what you think of the cat that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," mumbled Miss Lion. "I didn't know about any cat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wept Mister Rhinoceros silently. "I heard that this cat likes to shorten bilge pumps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Rhinoceros, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of cats shortening bilge pumps?"

"I can't imagine," said Miss Lion.

"What are we going to do about it?" vowed Mister Rhinoceros.

"Appoint a committee?" urged Miss Lion, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Rhinoceros had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," called Miss Lion queerly, 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 Rhinoceros vigorously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whimpered Miss Lion glibly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on her front porch, looking out over the desert and rocking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Rhinoceros. Do come again."

"Just a minute," roared Mister Rhinoceros effortlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Lion sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied resignedly.