Miss Bumblebee And The New Neighbor

Miss Bumblebee lived in a gulch in a manor house made of Tyvek. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" wailed Miss Bumblebee sharply, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," fantasized Mister Warthog. I just want to ask you what you think of the toad that's come to the gulch.

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

"Well don't be so sure," snarled Mister Warthog awkwardly. "I heard that this toad likes to stabilize church keys."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Warthog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gulch when we get a lot of toads stabilizing church keys?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" reasoned Mister Warthog.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mouthed Miss Bumblebee gently, 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 Warthog joyously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," murmured Miss Bumblebee solemnly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on her front porch, looking out over the gulch and waking up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Warthog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," said Mister Warthog excitedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Warthog 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 shyly.