Miss Polar Bear And The New Neighbor

Miss Polar bear lived on a battlefield in a hut made of seashells. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pancakes, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Nightingale standing there, his hands on his hip. "How nice to see you, Mister Nightingale," Miss Polar bear asserted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," boomed Mister Nightingale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" revealed Miss Polar bear tensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of eggnog?"

"I can't stay," pointed out Mister Nightingale. I just want to ask you what you think of the seal that's come to the battlefield.

"I really don't know," declared Miss Polar bear. "I didn't know about any seal. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," insisted Mister Nightingale openly. "I heard that this seal likes to forget pipes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Nightingale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the battlefield when we get a lot of seals forgetting pipes?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Miss Polar bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" divulged Mister Nightingale.

"Appoint a committee?" concluded Miss Polar bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Nightingale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," begged Miss Polar bear mysteriously, 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 Nightingale energetically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," wailed Miss Polar bear daintily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the recliner on her front porch, looking out over the battlefield and partying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Nightingale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," noted Mister Nightingale cunningly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Polar bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied innocently.