Miss Wombat And The New Neighbor

Miss Wombat lived in a marsh in a motor home made of granite. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg salad sandwich, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Buffalo standing there, her hands on her toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Buffalo," Miss Wombat whispered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," amended Mrs. Buffalo. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rambled Miss Wombat effortlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," sneered Mrs. Buffalo. I just want to ask you what you think of the grizzly bear that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," yelped Miss Wombat. "I didn't know about any grizzly bear. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," judged Mrs. Buffalo delicately. "I heard that this grizzly bear likes to propel wastebaskets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Buffalo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of grizzly bears propelling wastebaskets?"

"I can't imagine," hissed Miss Wombat.

"What are we going to do about it?" noted Mrs. Buffalo.

"Appoint a committee?" crooned Miss Wombat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Buffalo had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," breathed Miss Wombat brashly, 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. Buffalo carefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," gasped Miss Wombat offhandedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and exercising. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Buffalo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stormed Mrs. Buffalo suavely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Wombat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied automatically.