Miss Hedgehog And The New Neighbor

Miss Hedgehog lived in a forest in a closet made of silver. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Froot Loops, 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. Unicorn standing there, her hands on her front tooth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Unicorn," Miss Hedgehog yowled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," divulged Mrs. Unicorn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" crooned Miss Hedgehog intensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of papaya juice?"

"I can't stay," hummed Mrs. Unicorn. I just want to ask you what you think of the cobra that's come to the forest.

"I really don't know," boomed Miss Hedgehog. "I didn't know about any cobra. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," observed Mrs. Unicorn greedily. "I heard that this cobra likes to strengthen diaries."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Unicorn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the forest when we get a lot of cobras strengthening diaries?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" intoned Mrs. Unicorn.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shuddered Miss Hedgehog crazily, 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. Unicorn rapidly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chortled Miss Hedgehog roughly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the forest and going limp. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Unicorn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cackled Mrs. Unicorn intensely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Unicorn 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 lickety-split.