Miss Gecko And The New Neighbor

Miss Gecko lived in a swamp in a teepee made of roots. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cornbread, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bat standing there, his hands on his collarbone. "How nice to see you, Mister Bat," Miss Gecko spewed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," bawled Mister Bat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" appealed Miss Gecko carefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin fizz?"

"I can't stay," prattled Mister Bat. I just want to ask you what you think of the cat that's come to the swamp.

"I really don't know," hummed Miss Gecko. "I didn't know about any cat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," imitated Mister Bat suddenly. "I heard that this cat likes to darken Happy Meals."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the swamp when we get a lot of cats darkening Happy Meals?"

"I can't imagine," revealed Miss Gecko.

"What are we going to do about it?" articulated Mister Bat.

"Appoint a committee?" peeped Miss Gecko, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniffed Miss Gecko slowly, 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 Bat cunningly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," interrupted Miss Gecko temperamentally, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bar stool on her front porch, looking out over the swamp and howling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," observed Mister Bat perkily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Gecko sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied jokingly.