Miss Frog And The New Neighbor

Miss Frog lived in a badlands area in a Victorian mansion made of cornhusks. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried okra, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" suggested Miss Frog timidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Jack Daniel's?"

"I can't stay," wailed Mister Panther. I just want to ask you what you think of the giraffe that's come to the badlands area.

"I really don't know," jeered Miss Frog. "I didn't know about any giraffe. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hummed Mister Panther sleepily. "I heard that this giraffe likes to clean cages."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Panther, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the badlands area when we get a lot of giraffes cleaning cages?"

"I can't imagine," wondered Miss Frog.

"What are we going to do about it?" bragged Mister Panther.

"Appoint a committee?" imitated Miss Frog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Panther had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," preached Miss Frog slyly, 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 Panther gracefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," commented Miss Frog 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 badlands area and moaning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Panther. Do come again."

"Just a minute," admitted Mister Panther hysterically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Frog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied reluctantly.