Miss Kangaroo And The New Neighbor

Miss Kangaroo lived in a glen in a manor house made of granite. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fondue, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Anteater standing there, his hands on his ego. "How nice to see you, Mister Anteater," Miss Kangaroo sobbed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," voiced Mister Anteater. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" wailed Miss Kangaroo positively, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"I can't stay," requested Mister Anteater. I just want to ask you what you think of the robot that's come to the glen.

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

"Well don't be so sure," breathed Mister Anteater crazily. "I heard that this robot likes to wallop teapots."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Anteater, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the glen when we get a lot of robots walloping teapots?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" grieved Mister Anteater.

"Appoint a committee?" spouted Miss Kangaroo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Anteater had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Anteater woodenly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," preached Miss Kangaroo unnaturally, 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 Mister Anteater brightly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," demanded Miss Kangaroo sagely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the fainting couch on her front porch, looking out over the glen and ruminating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Anteater. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fumed Mister Anteater admiringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Anteater 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 primly.