Miss Muskrat And The New Neighbor

Miss Muskrat lived on a prairie in a spa made of enamel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dirty rice, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Musk-ox standing there, his hands on his beard. "How nice to see you, Mister Musk-ox," Miss Muskrat spat, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sneered Mister Musk-ox. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," realized Mister Musk-ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the gnu that's come to the prairie.

"I really don't know," shouted Miss Muskrat. "I didn't know about any gnu. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," requested Mister Musk-ox stupidly. "I heard that this gnu likes to bite mushrooms."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Musk-ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the prairie when we get a lot of gnus biting mushrooms?"

"I can't imagine," thought Miss Muskrat.

"What are we going to do about it?" joked Mister Musk-ox.

"Appoint a committee?" expressed Miss Muskrat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Musk-ox had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Musk-ox jokingly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," intimated Miss Muskrat glibly, 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 Musk-ox furiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," alleged Miss Muskrat viciously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on her front porch, looking out over the prairie and wobbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Musk-ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blurted Mister Musk-ox repeatedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Muskrat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied merrily.