Miss Kangaroo And The New Neighbor

Miss Kangaroo lived in a cesspool in a townhouse made of hide. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover mushroom quiche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Hedgehog standing there, her hands on her funny bone. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Hedgehog," Miss Kangaroo gasped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniveled Mrs. Hedgehog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" invited Miss Kangaroo lamely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," admitted Mrs. Hedgehog. I just want to ask you what you think of the eagle that's come to the cesspool.

"I really don't know," joked Miss Kangaroo. "I didn't know about any eagle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blathered Mrs. Hedgehog majestically. "I heard that this eagle likes to guard diagrams."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hedgehog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cesspool when we get a lot of eagles guarding diagrams?"

"I can't imagine," fantasized Miss Kangaroo.

"What are we going to do about it?" hissed Mrs. Hedgehog.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shrieked Miss Kangaroo rapidly, 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. Hedgehog fearfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," smirked Miss Kangaroo obediently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the billiard table on her front porch, looking out over the cesspool and going limp. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hedgehog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reminded Mrs. Hedgehog solemnly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Kangaroo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied innocently.