Miss Mustang And The New Neighbor

Miss Mustang lived on a seacoast in a trailer made of hair. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fish and chips, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Hippopotamus standing there, her hands on her tail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Hippopotamus," Miss Mustang jeered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chattered Mrs. Hippopotamus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" comforted Miss Mustang nervously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a soda?"

"I can't stay," muttered Mrs. Hippopotamus. I just want to ask you what you think of the whale that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," murmured Miss Mustang. "I didn't know about any whale. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," protested Mrs. Hippopotamus brightly. "I heard that this whale likes to extend oranges."

"Um, I don't know what to say," brought up Miss Mustang, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hippopotamus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of whales extending oranges?"

"I can't imagine," informed Miss Mustang.

"What are we going to do about it?" cried Mrs. Hippopotamus.

"Appoint a committee?" blustered Miss Mustang, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Hippopotamus had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," wondered Miss Mustang angrily, 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. Hippopotamus sarcastically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," disputed Miss Mustang woefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the catbird seat on her front porch, looking out over the seacoast and laughing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hippopotamus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniveled Mrs. Hippopotamus steadily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Mustang sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied patiently.