Miss Bumblebee And The New Neighbor

Miss Bumblebee lived on a cliff in a chalet made of hay. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pumpkin pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Dog standing there, her hands on her neck. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Dog," Miss Bumblebee bellowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," intimated Mrs. Dog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" simpered Miss Bumblebee automatically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," exclaimed Mrs. Dog. I just want to ask you what you think of the kitty that's come to the cliff.

"I really don't know," cried Miss Bumblebee. "I didn't know about any kitty. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," recited Mrs. Dog coldly. "I heard that this kitty likes to lynch crutches."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cliff when we get a lot of kitties lynching crutches?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" piped up Mrs. Dog.

"Appoint a committee?" shrieked Miss Bumblebee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," repeated Miss Bumblebee gingerly, 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. Dog lamely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," vowed Miss Bumblebee speedily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the overstuffed chair on her front porch, looking out over the cliff and getting frazzled. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intimated Mrs. Dog tenderly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Bumblebee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied warily.