Miss Grizzly Bear And The New Neighbor

Miss Grizzly bear lived in a garden in a homeless shelter made of dirt. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dirty rice, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Hedgehog standing there, her hands on her knee. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Hedgehog," Miss Grizzly bear scoffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yelled Mrs. Hedgehog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" asked Miss Grizzly bear blissfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a bottle of water?"

"I can't stay," cackled Mrs. Hedgehog. I just want to ask you what you think of the cow that's come to the garden.

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

"Well don't be so sure," warbled Mrs. Hedgehog vacantly. "I heard that this cow likes to expand bags of groceries."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hedgehog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the garden when we get a lot of cows expanding bags of groceries?"

"I can't imagine," added Miss Grizzly bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" moaned Mrs. Hedgehog.

"Appoint a committee?" provoked Miss Grizzly bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Hedgehog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," informed Miss Grizzly bear frantically, 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. Hedgehog offhandedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," debated Miss Grizzly bear zestily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the table on her front porch, looking out over the garden and whirling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hedgehog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," insisted Mrs. Hedgehog frantically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Grizzly bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied nervously.