Miss Ant And The New Neighbor

Miss Ant lived on an island in a cottage made of aluminum foil. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, 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 Mrs. Bullfrog standing there, her hands on her chest. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bullfrog," Miss Ant provoked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," implored Mrs. Bullfrog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lamented Miss Ant dubiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," yawned Mrs. Bullfrog. I just want to ask you what you think of the Guinea pig that's come to the island.

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

"Well don't be so sure," groveled Mrs. Bullfrog hastily. "I heard that this Guinea pig likes to grapple floppy disks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bullfrog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of Guinea pigs grappling floppy disks?"

"I can't imagine," stammered Miss Ant.

"What are we going to do about it?" concluded Mrs. Bullfrog.

"Appoint a committee?" wailed Miss Ant, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bullfrog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," asserted Miss Ant quietly, 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. Bullfrog roughly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chanted Miss Ant energetically, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the sofa on her front porch, looking out over the island and flailing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bullfrog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," protested Mrs. Bullfrog bravely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied warily.