Miss Wallaby And The New Neighbor

Miss Wallaby lived on a mountain in a loft made of satin. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tuna casserole, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Buffalo standing there, his hands on his belly button. "How nice to see you, Mister Buffalo," Miss Wallaby repeated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sneered Mister Buffalo. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" scoffed Miss Wallaby dreamily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Dr. Pepper?"

"I can't stay," declaimed Mister Buffalo. I just want to ask you what you think of the bear that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," disputed Miss Wallaby. "I didn't know about any bear. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," screamed Mister Buffalo fervently. "I heard that this bear likes to hit pacifiers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Buffalo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of bears hitting pacifiers?"

"I can't imagine," sighed Miss Wallaby.

"What are we going to do about it?" laughed Mister Buffalo.

"Appoint a committee?" grieved Miss Wallaby, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Buffalo had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," avowed Miss Wallaby cautiously, 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 Buffalo noisily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," worried Miss Wallaby offhandedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the windowsill on her front porch, looking out over the mountain and passing out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Buffalo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," gasped Mister Buffalo primly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Wallaby sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied shakily.