Miss Teddy Bear And The New Neighbor

Miss Teddy bear lived beside a river in a house made of plaster. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Peacock standing there, her hands on her spine. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Peacock," Miss Teddy bear nattered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," said Mrs. Peacock. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" avowed Miss Teddy bear narrowly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," rebutted Mrs. Peacock. I just want to ask you what you think of the crab that's come to the river.

"I really don't know," blustered Miss Teddy bear. "I didn't know about any crab. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," lamented Mrs. Peacock greedily. "I heard that this crab likes to inspect brooms."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Peacock, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the river when we get a lot of crabs inspecting brooms?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" blubbered Mrs. Peacock.

"Appoint a committee?" rebutted Miss Teddy bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Peacock had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," acknowledged Miss Teddy bear suddenly, 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. Peacock admiringly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," brought up Miss Teddy bear lickety-split, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on her front porch, looking out over the river and going limp. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Peacock. Do come again."

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

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

Mrs. Peacock 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 slowly.