Miss Koala And The New Neighbor

Miss Koala lived in a grassland in a barracks made of marble. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" conversed Miss Koala grandly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mudslide?"

"I can't stay," informed Mister Mole. I just want to ask you what you think of the Dalmatian that's come to the grassland.

"I really don't know," preached Miss Koala. "I didn't know about any Dalmatian. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wondered Mister Mole miserably. "I heard that this Dalmatian likes to pack staplers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mole, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassland when we get a lot of Dalmatians packing staplers?"

"I can't imagine," invited Miss Koala.

"What are we going to do about it?" warbled Mister Mole.

"Appoint a committee?" realized Miss Koala, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mole had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," complained Miss Koala sharply, 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 Mole firmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," explained Miss Koala sagely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the grassland and dying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mole. Do come again."

"Just a minute," conversed Mister Mole stealthily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Koala sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied lamely.