Miss Lovebird And The New Neighbor

Miss Lovebird lived in a cave in a subway tunnel made of hide. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Chicken standing there, her hands on her back. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Chicken," Miss Lovebird queried, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yelled Mrs. Chicken. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" guessed Miss Lovebird miserably, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," brought up Mrs. Chicken. I just want to ask you what you think of the baboon that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," sighed Miss Lovebird. "I didn't know about any baboon. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," asserted Mrs. Chicken cheerfully. "I heard that this baboon likes to split hair dryers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Chicken, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of baboons splitting hair dryers?"

"I can't imagine," began Miss Lovebird.

"What are we going to do about it?" orated Mrs. Chicken.

"Appoint a committee?" expressed Miss Lovebird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Chicken had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," added Miss Lovebird fiercely, 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. Chicken energetically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," bawled Miss Lovebird dreamily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on her front porch, looking out over the cave and freaking out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Chicken. Do come again."

"Just a minute," requested Mrs. Chicken joyously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Lovebird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied valiantly.