Miss Flea And The New Neighbor

Miss Flea lived in a backyard in a housing project made of hide. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Parrot standing there, his hands on his eyelash. "How nice to see you, Mister Parrot," Miss Flea commented, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," uttered Mister Parrot. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lectured Miss Flea irritably, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," opined Mister Parrot. I just want to ask you what you think of the squirrel that's come to the backyard.

"I really don't know," guessed Miss Flea. "I didn't know about any squirrel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chanted Mister Parrot sheepishly. "I heard that this squirrel likes to grease handkerchiefs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Parrot, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the backyard when we get a lot of squirrels greasing handkerchiefs?"

"I can't imagine," hummed Miss Flea.

"What are we going to do about it?" chortled Mister Parrot.

"Appoint a committee?" whispered Miss Flea, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Parrot had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," remarked Miss Flea blankly, 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 Parrot demurely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," quavered Miss Flea neatly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the settee on her front porch, looking out over the backyard and screaming. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Parrot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hummed Mister Parrot happily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Flea sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied miserably.