Miss Koala And The New Neighbor

Miss Koala lived in a pond in a skyscraper made of bubbles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast Cornish game hen, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Shark standing there, his hands on his pinky. "How nice to see you, Mister Shark," Miss Koala chanted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," comforted Mister Shark. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" comforted Miss Koala sourly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cambric tea?"

"I can't stay," rebutted Mister Shark. I just want to ask you what you think of the partridge that's come to the pond.

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

"Well don't be so sure," enunciated Mister Shark craftily. "I heard that this partridge likes to pierce cardboard boxes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Shark, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of partridges piercing cardboard boxes?"

"I can't imagine," winked Miss Koala.

"What are we going to do about it?" agreed Mister Shark.

"Appoint a committee?" purred Miss Koala, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Shark had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," ranted Miss Koala openly, 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 Shark haughtily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," noted Miss Koala perkily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on her front porch, looking out over the pond and applauding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Shark. Do come again."

"Just a minute," suggested Mister Shark joyously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Koala sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied thankfully.