Miss Panda And The New Neighbor

Miss Panda lived on a seacoast in a wigwam made of axle grease. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sushi, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Groundhog standing there, her hands on her hair. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Groundhog," Miss Panda called, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," agreed Mrs. Groundhog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rebutted Miss Panda testily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a kamikaze?"

"I can't stay," giggled Mrs. Groundhog. I just want to ask you what you think of the bumblebee that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," barked Miss Panda. "I didn't know about any bumblebee. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," spouted Mrs. Groundhog charmingly. "I heard that this bumblebee likes to fry beach balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Groundhog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of bumblebees frying beach balls?"

"I can't imagine," smirked Miss Panda.

"What are we going to do about it?" squeaked Mrs. Groundhog.

"Appoint a committee?" retorted Miss Panda, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Groundhog had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Groundhog curiously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," implored Miss Panda hopelessly, 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 Mrs. Groundhog neatly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," scoffed Miss Panda grudgingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on her front porch, looking out over the seacoast and flushing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Groundhog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," divulged Mrs. Groundhog zestily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Panda sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied hastily.