Miss Sheep And The New Neighbor

Miss Sheep lived on a path in a box made of lath and plaster. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Hornet standing there, his hands on his heel. "How nice to see you, Mister Hornet," Miss Sheep chanted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pointed out Mister Hornet. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," added Mister Hornet. I just want to ask you what you think of the puppy that's come to the path.

"I really don't know," intimated Miss Sheep. "I didn't know about any puppy. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," judged Mister Hornet blissfully. "I heard that this puppy likes to propel flowers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hornet, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the path when we get a lot of puppies propelling flowers?"

"I can't imagine," analyzed Miss Sheep.

"What are we going to do about it?" pronounced Mister Hornet.

"Appoint a committee?" muttered Miss Sheep, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hornet had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," quoted Miss Sheep fearlessly, 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 Hornet vacantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," gasped Miss Sheep jokingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the path and fulminating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hornet. Do come again."

"Just a minute," instructed Mister Hornet nonchalantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Sheep sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied majestically.