Miss Dragon And The New Neighbor

Miss Dragon lived in a backyard in a chateau made of wax. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried eggs, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Duck-billed platypus standing there, his hands on his front tooth. "How nice to see you, Mister Duck-billed platypus," Miss Dragon growled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whined Mister Duck-billed platypus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" accused Miss Dragon blindly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Long Island iced tea?"

"I can't stay," hummed Mister Duck-billed platypus. I just want to ask you what you think of the Norway rat that's come to the backyard.

"I really don't know," fumed Miss Dragon. "I didn't know about any Norway rat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cajoled Mister Duck-billed platypus strangely. "I heard that this Norway rat likes to experience yardsticks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Duck-billed platypus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the backyard when we get a lot of Norway rats experiencing yardsticks?"

"I can't imagine," whispered Miss Dragon.

"What are we going to do about it?" breathed Mister Duck-billed platypus.

"Appoint a committee?" asserted Miss Dragon, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Duck-billed platypus had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Duck-billed platypus truculently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," offered Miss Dragon suspiciously, 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 Duck-billed platypus suspiciously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," growled Miss Dragon excitedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the backyard and flailing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Duck-billed platypus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sneered Mister Duck-billed platypus irritably. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dragon sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied madly.