Miss Rooster And The New Neighbor

Miss Rooster lived on an island in a cabin made of corncobs. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Bumblebee standing there, her hands on her appendix. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bumblebee," Miss Rooster begged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," reasoned Mrs. Bumblebee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" grieved Miss Rooster blissfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bud Lite?"

"I can't stay," growled Mrs. Bumblebee. I just want to ask you what you think of the turkey that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," blustered Miss Rooster. "I didn't know about any turkey. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," added Mrs. Bumblebee firmly. "I heard that this turkey likes to roast necklaces."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bumblebee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of turkeys roasting necklaces?"

"I can't imagine," added Miss Rooster.

"What are we going to do about it?" interrupted Mrs. Bumblebee.

"Appoint a committee?" bawled Miss Rooster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bumblebee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sobbed Miss Rooster caustically, 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. Bumblebee solemnly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," giggled Miss Rooster oddly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the buffet on her front porch, looking out over the island and spitting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bumblebee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," continued Mrs. Bumblebee warmly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Rooster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied lightly.