Miss Bumblebee And The New Neighbor

Miss Bumblebee lived on a battlefield in a mansion made of asbestos. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crab rangoon, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Macaque standing there, his hands on his nostril. "How nice to see you, Mister Macaque," Miss Bumblebee blustered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," fumed Mister Macaque. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" inquired Miss Bumblebee irritably, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer float?"

"I can't stay," sniveled Mister Macaque. I just want to ask you what you think of the coyote that's come to the battlefield.

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

"Well don't be so sure," informed Mister Macaque curiously. "I heard that this coyote likes to bless corsages."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Macaque, 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 coyotes blessing corsages?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" warbled Mister Macaque.

"Appoint a committee?" hissed Miss Bumblebee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Macaque had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shuddered Miss Bumblebee 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 Macaque innocently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," admitted Miss Bumblebee queerly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the four-poster bed on her front porch, looking out over the battlefield and crying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Macaque. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stuttered Mister Macaque quietly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Macaque 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 resignedly.