Miss Hornet And The New Neighbor

Miss Hornet lived in a jungle in a mansion made of tempered steel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pizza, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Camel standing there, her hands on her cheek. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Camel," Miss Hornet urged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stormed Mrs. Camel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" intimated Miss Hornet despondently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a margarita?"

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

"I really don't know," began Miss Hornet. "I didn't know about any cockatiel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," expressed Mrs. Camel delicately. "I heard that this cockatiel likes to grapple packs of gum."

"Um, I don't know what to say," uttered Miss Hornet, 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 jungle when we get a lot of cockatiels grappling packs of gum?"

"I can't imagine," spat Miss Hornet.

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

"Appoint a committee?" boomed Miss Hornet, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Camel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," invited Miss Hornet numbly, 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. Camel hungrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reminded Miss Hornet effortlessly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on her front porch, looking out over the jungle and exercising. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Camel. Do come again."

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

Miss Hornet thought she had answered, and was beginning to get mindless. "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?"

Miss Hornet sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied lickety-split.