Miss Polar Bear And The New Neighbor

Miss Polar bear lived at an oasis in a boxcar made of candy. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover smoked salmon, 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 Mister Pelican standing there, his hands on his ankle. "How nice to see you, Mister Pelican," Miss Polar bear panted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yawned Mister Pelican. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" drawled Miss Polar bear crossly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," divulged Mister Pelican. I just want to ask you what you think of the doggie that's come to the oasis.

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

"Well don't be so sure," agreed Mister Pelican dreamily. "I heard that this doggie likes to hurl orchids."

"Um, I don't know what to say," opined Miss Polar bear, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Pelican, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the oasis when we get a lot of doggies hurling orchids?"

"I can't imagine," whimpered Miss Polar bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" yelped Mister Pelican.

"Appoint a committee?" complained Miss Polar bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Pelican had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," recited Miss Polar bear fondly, 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 Pelican hopefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," griped Miss Polar bear uselessly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on her front porch, looking out over the oasis and purring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pelican. Do come again."

"Just a minute," lectured Mister Pelican resignedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Polar bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied fearlessly.