Miss Honeybee And The New Neighbor

Miss Honeybee lived in a canyon in a condominium made of balsa. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pecan pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Swan standing there, his hands on his knuckle. "How nice to see you, Mister Swan," Miss Honeybee snorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," panted Mister Swan. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" analyzed Miss Honeybee immediately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," provoked Mister Swan. I just want to ask you what you think of the teddy bear that's come to the canyon.

"I really don't know," remarked Miss Honeybee. "I didn't know about any teddy bear. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," requested Mister Swan slowly. "I heard that this teddy bear likes to flush pairs of pliers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Swan, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the canyon when we get a lot of teddy bears flushing pairs of pliers?"

"I can't imagine," observed Miss Honeybee.

"What are we going to do about it?" breathed Mister Swan.

"Appoint a committee?" decided Miss Honeybee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Swan had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mumbled Miss Honeybee bravely, 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 Swan bravely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squealed Miss Honeybee woodenly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hope chest on her front porch, looking out over the canyon and rolling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Swan. Do come again."

"Just a minute," griped Mister Swan smoothly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Honeybee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied wryly.