Miss Teddy Bear And The New Neighbor

Miss Teddy bear lived in a pond in a motel made of cane. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover country glazed ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Tapeworm standing there, his hands on his bladder. "How nice to see you, Mister Tapeworm," Miss Teddy bear yawned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," avowed Mister Tapeworm. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hinted Miss Teddy bear sorrowfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apple juice?"

"I can't stay," taunted Mister Tapeworm. I just want to ask you what you think of the eel that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," quoted Miss Teddy bear. "I didn't know about any eel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," requested Mister Tapeworm gleefully. "I heard that this eel likes to unwrap baskets."

"Um, I don't know what to say," provoked Miss Teddy bear, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Tapeworm, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of eels unwrapping baskets?"

"I can't imagine," urged Miss Teddy bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" blustered Mister Tapeworm.

"Appoint a committee?" nattered Miss Teddy bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Tapeworm had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," remarked Miss Teddy bear pityingly, 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 Tapeworm tenderly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," scoffed Miss Teddy bear happily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on her front porch, looking out over the pond and blowing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Tapeworm. Do come again."

"Just a minute," muttered Mister Tapeworm neatly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Teddy bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied oddly.