Miss Duck-billed Platypus And The New Neighbor

Miss Duck-billed platypus lived on a butte in a ranch house made of noodles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Otter standing there, her hands on her toenail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Otter," Miss Duck-billed platypus intoned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," queried Mrs. Otter. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" giggled Miss Duck-billed platypus fearlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot cider?"

"I can't stay," proposed Mrs. Otter. I just want to ask you what you think of the monkey that's come to the butte.

"I really don't know," avowed Miss Duck-billed platypus. "I didn't know about any monkey. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hinted Mrs. Otter pitifully. "I heard that this monkey likes to grab grease guns."

"Um, I don't know what to say," quavered Miss Duck-billed platypus, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Otter, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the butte when we get a lot of monkeys grabbing grease guns?"

"I can't imagine," chattered Miss Duck-billed platypus.

"What are we going to do about it?" affirmed Mrs. Otter.

"Appoint a committee?" croaked Miss Duck-billed platypus, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Otter had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," commented Miss Duck-billed platypus innocently, 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. Otter positively. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," indicated Miss Duck-billed platypus sharply, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the umbrella stand on her front porch, looking out over the butte and awakening. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Otter. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squawked Mrs. Otter hysterically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Duck-billed platypus sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied queerly.