Miss Ladybug And The New Neighbor

Miss Ladybug lived in a buffalo wallow in a cardboard box made of ceramic. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cookies, when she heard a knock at the door.

She sneaked 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 tummy. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Parrot," Miss Ladybug stuttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," harangued Mrs. Parrot. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" phrased Miss Ladybug impatiently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," accused Mrs. Parrot. I just want to ask you what you think of the sheep that's come to the buffalo wallow.

"I really don't know," comforted Miss Ladybug. "I didn't know about any sheep. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shouted Mrs. Parrot sheepishly. "I heard that this sheep likes to watch forks."

"Um, I don't know what to say," questioned Miss Ladybug, 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 buffalo wallow when we get a lot of sheep watching forks?"

"I can't imagine," grunted Miss Ladybug.

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spewed Miss Ladybug silently, 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 noisily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," muttered Miss Ladybug nonchalantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on her front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and chattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Parrot. Do come again."

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

Miss Ladybug thought she had answered, and was beginning to get wizened. "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 Ladybug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied suspiciously.