Miss Ladybug And The New Neighbor

Miss Ladybug lived on a seacoast in a brownstone made of cards. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover spaghetti, 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 Robot standing there, his hands on his buttocks. "How nice to see you, Mister Robot," Miss Ladybug professed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," proposed Mister Robot. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" demanded Miss Ladybug gracefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin fizz?"

"I can't stay," maintained Mister Robot. I just want to ask you what you think of the cow that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," wept Miss Ladybug. "I didn't know about any cow. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," implored Mister Robot uselessly. "I heard that this cow likes to swat batons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Robot, 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 cows swatting batons?"

"I can't imagine," articulated Miss Ladybug.

"What are we going to do about it?" revealed Mister Robot.

"Appoint a committee?" wailed Miss Ladybug, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Robot had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," remarked Miss Ladybug vacantly, 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 Robot blankly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," wept Miss Ladybug lovingly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bookshelf on her front porch, looking out over the seacoast and gazing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Robot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," questioned Mister Robot numbly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ladybug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied perkily.