Miss Kangaroo And The New Neighbor

Miss Kangaroo lived in a cornfield in a wigwam made of nylon. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover enchiladas, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Kitten standing there, her hands on her Achilles tendon. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Kitten," Miss Kangaroo yelped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squeaked Mrs. Kitten. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" instructed Miss Kangaroo tearfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," boasted Mrs. Kitten. I just want to ask you what you think of the pheasant that's come to the cornfield.

"I really don't know," fretted Miss Kangaroo. "I didn't know about any pheasant. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," screamed Mrs. Kitten haughtily. "I heard that this pheasant likes to comprehend china dolls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Kitten, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cornfield when we get a lot of pheasants comprehending china dolls?"

"I can't imagine," winked Miss Kangaroo.

"What are we going to do about it?" reacted Mrs. Kitten.

"Appoint a committee?" uttered Miss Kangaroo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Kitten had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," insisted Miss Kangaroo noisily, 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. Kitten warily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," trumpeted Miss Kangaroo warmly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the cornfield and fretting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Kitten. Do come again."

"Just a minute," repeated Mrs. Kitten tensely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Kangaroo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied temperamentally.