Miss Llama And The New Neighbor

Miss Llama lived in a hayfield in a palace made of old newspapers. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prune pudding, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Weasel standing there, her hands on her tummy. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Weasel," Miss Llama railed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," debated Mrs. Weasel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" fumed Miss Llama neatly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a latte?"

"I can't stay," queried Mrs. Weasel. I just want to ask you what you think of the Guinea pig that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," begged Miss Llama. "I didn't know about any Guinea pig. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blurted Mrs. Weasel deftly. "I heard that this Guinea pig likes to unlock twigs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Weasel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of Guinea pigs unlocking twigs?"

"I can't imagine," expressed Miss Llama.

"What are we going to do about it?" stammered Mrs. Weasel.

"Appoint a committee?" blathered Miss Llama, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Weasel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blubbered Miss Llama delicately, 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. Weasel softly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," interrupted Miss Llama daintily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bathtub on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and applauding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Weasel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," quavered Mrs. Weasel nicely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Llama sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied crankily.