Miss Parrot And The New Neighbor

Miss Parrot lived in a country meadow in a chalet made of gingerbread. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lasagna, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Tiger standing there, his hands on his back. "How nice to see you, Mister Tiger," Miss Parrot warbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," noted Mister Tiger. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" proposed Miss Parrot victoriously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," demanded Mister Tiger. I just want to ask you what you think of the Siamese cat that's come to the country meadow.

"I really don't know," reasoned Miss Parrot. "I didn't know about any Siamese cat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," wondered Mister Tiger courteously. "I heard that this Siamese cat likes to grapple helmets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Tiger, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the country meadow when we get a lot of Siamese cats grappling helmets?"

"I can't imagine," declaimed Miss Parrot.

"What are we going to do about it?" spoke up Mister Tiger.

"Appoint a committee?" blurted Miss Parrot, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Tiger had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," raved Miss Parrot hysterically, 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 Tiger nimbly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," comforted Miss Parrot sorrowfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the country meadow and crouching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Tiger. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intoned Mister Tiger demurely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Parrot sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied sheepishly.