Miss Teddy Bear And The New Neighbor

Miss Teddy bear lived on a ridge in a geodesic dome made of Tyvek. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Brine shrimp standing there, his hands on his aorta. "How nice to see you, Mister Brine shrimp," Miss Teddy bear reasoned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," belched Mister Brine shrimp. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" bawled Miss Teddy bear noisily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a dose of cod liver oil?"

"I can't stay," shrieked Mister Brine shrimp. I just want to ask you what you think of the rabbit that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," chanted Miss Teddy bear. "I didn't know about any rabbit. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," purred Mister Brine shrimp resignedly. "I heard that this rabbit likes to rub cages."

"Um, I don't know what to say," mentioned Miss Teddy bear, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Brine shrimp, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of rabbits rubbing cages?"

"I can't imagine," invited Miss Teddy bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" begged Mister Brine shrimp.

"Appoint a committee?" queried Miss Teddy bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Brine shrimp had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Brine shrimp crankily. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," shuddered Miss Teddy bear wryly, 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 Brine shrimp daintily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," scoffed Miss Teddy bear cruelly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and purring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Brine shrimp. Do come again."

"Just a minute," groveled Mister Brine shrimp cunningly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Teddy bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied coolly.