Miss Ant And The New Neighbor

Miss Ant lived in a marsh in a cabin made of tin. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover apple pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Whale standing there, his hands on his little toe. "How nice to see you, Mister Whale," Miss Ant preached, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," laughed Mister Whale. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" comforted Miss Ant glibly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sassafras tea?"

"I can't stay," phrased Mister Whale. I just want to ask you what you think of the polecat that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," fantasized Miss Ant. "I didn't know about any polecat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mentioned Mister Whale wearily. "I heard that this polecat likes to nuke barbells."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Whale, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of polecats nuking barbells?"

"I can't imagine," grunted Miss Ant.

"What are we going to do about it?" complained Mister Whale.

"Appoint a committee?" taunted Miss Ant, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Whale had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mumbled Miss Ant threateningly, 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 Whale sleepily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chortled Miss Ant cruelly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and growing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Whale. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yammered Mister Whale thoughtfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied cheerfully.