Miss Bunny And The New Neighbor

Miss Bunny lived in a grassland in a trough made of hide. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover borscht, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Grasshopper standing there, her hands on her tongue. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Grasshopper," Miss Bunny added, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," repeated Mrs. Grasshopper. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" continued Miss Bunny languidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," interrupted Mrs. Grasshopper. I just want to ask you what you think of the toad that's come to the grassland.

"I really don't know," wept Miss Bunny. "I didn't know about any toad. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cackled Mrs. Grasshopper coldly. "I heard that this toad likes to pulverize coloring books."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Grasshopper, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassland when we get a lot of toads pulverizing coloring books?"

"I can't imagine," urged Miss Bunny.

"What are we going to do about it?" crooned Mrs. Grasshopper.

"Appoint a committee?" blurted Miss Bunny, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Grasshopper had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," acknowledged Miss Bunny merrily, 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. Grasshopper doubtfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," spoke up Miss Bunny menacingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the buffet on her front porch, looking out over the grassland and growing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Grasshopper. Do come again."

"Just a minute," moaned Mrs. Grasshopper innocently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Bunny sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied speedily.