Miss Hedgehog And The New Neighbor

Miss Hedgehog lived in an arroyo in a park bench made of linen. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cookies, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" disputed Miss Hedgehog zestily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Dr. Pepper?"

"I can't stay," sniffed Mrs. Parrot. I just want to ask you what you think of the skunk that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," called Miss Hedgehog. "I didn't know about any skunk. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yammered Mrs. Parrot grandly. "I heard that this skunk likes to reject bowls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Parrot, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of skunks rejecting bowls?"

"I can't imagine," complained Miss Hedgehog.

"What are we going to do about it?" fantasized Mrs. Parrot.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pronounced Miss Hedgehog languidly, 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. Parrot calmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," contended Miss Hedgehog dreamily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the wine rack on her front porch, looking out over the arroyo and exercising. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Parrot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," scoffed Mrs. Parrot again. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Hedgehog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied warily.