Miss Teddy Bear And The New Neighbor

Miss Teddy bear lived in a badlands area in a mud hut made of maple. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sauerkraut, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Android standing there, his hands on his lung. "How nice to see you, Mister Android," Miss Teddy bear articulated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," belched Mister Android. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," squeaked Mister Android. I just want to ask you what you think of the gerbil that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," suggested Miss Teddy bear. "I didn't know about any gerbil. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," raved Mister Android testily. "I heard that this gerbil likes to praise diagrams."

"Um, I don't know what to say," bragged Miss Teddy bear, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Android, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of gerbils praising diagrams?"

"I can't imagine," commented Miss Teddy bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" responded Mister Android.

"Appoint a committee?" opined Miss Teddy bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Android had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," maintained Miss Teddy bear sweetly, 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 Android sadly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," hummed Miss Teddy bear sleepily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ping-pong table on her front porch, looking out over the badlands area and clearing out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Android. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wept Mister Android delicately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Teddy bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied cautiously.