Mister Ladybug And The New Neighbor

Mister Ladybug lived in a marsh in a wigwam made of sand. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pie a la mode, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Camel standing there, her hands on her spine. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Camel," Mister Ladybug chanted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," jeered Mrs. Camel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" protested Mister Ladybug suavely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom Collins?"

"I can't stay," pronounced Mrs. Camel. I just want to ask you what you think of the hedgehog that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," groveled Mister Ladybug. "I didn't know about any hedgehog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," spewed Mrs. Camel brashly. "I heard that this hedgehog likes to forget forks."

"Um, I don't know what to say," announced Mister Ladybug, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Camel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of hedgehogs forgetting forks?"

"I can't imagine," yelped Mister Ladybug.

"What are we going to do about it?" disputed Mrs. Camel.

"Appoint a committee?" giggled Mister Ladybug, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Camel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," analyzed Mister Ladybug cleverly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Camel vigorously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," moaned Mister Ladybug thankfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on his front porch, looking out over the marsh and swooning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Camel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squealed Mrs. Camel grandly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Ladybug thought he had answered, and was beginning to get witty. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Camel doing these days?"

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

Mister Ladybug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied boldly.