Mister Honeybee And The New Neighbor

Mister Honeybee lived on a tundra in a convent made of Scotch tape. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover enchiladas, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Penguin standing there, his hands on his abdomen. "How nice to see you, Mister Penguin," Mister Honeybee decided, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," analyzed Mister Penguin. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" clarified Mister Honeybee woodenly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an iced tea?"

"I can't stay," whispered Mister Penguin. I just want to ask you what you think of the snipe that's come to the tundra.

"I really don't know," scoffed Mister Honeybee. "I didn't know about any snipe. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," prattled Mister Penguin urgently. "I heard that this snipe likes to hit pom-poms."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Penguin, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the tundra when we get a lot of snipes hitting pom-poms?"

"I can't imagine," pronounced Mister Honeybee.

"What are we going to do about it?" announced Mister Penguin.

"Appoint a committee?" admitted Mister Honeybee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Penguin had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pointed out Mister Honeybee woodenly, 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 Mister Penguin firmly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," decided Mister Honeybee valiantly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on his front porch, looking out over the tundra and playing solitaire. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Penguin. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sighed Mister Penguin openly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Honeybee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied dubiously.