Miss Bird And The New Neighbor

Miss Bird lived in a rainforest in a studio made of ice. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Groundhog standing there, his hands on his Achilles tendon. "How nice to see you, Mister Groundhog," Miss Bird offered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," griped Mister Groundhog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chanted Miss Bird hastily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a secret potion?"

"I can't stay," fretted Mister Groundhog. I just want to ask you what you think of the orangutan that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," emphasized Miss Bird. "I didn't know about any orangutan. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," accused Mister Groundhog thoughtfully. "I heard that this orangutan likes to overturn china dolls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Groundhog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of orangutans overturning china dolls?"

"I can't imagine," concluded Miss Bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" squawked Mister Groundhog.

"Appoint a committee?" revealed Miss Bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Groundhog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," intimated Miss Bird carelessly, 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 Groundhog angrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," began Miss Bird elatedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the counter on her front porch, looking out over the rainforest and twitching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Groundhog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," barked Mister Groundhog repeatedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gingerly.