Miss Bullfrog And The New Neighbor

Miss Bullfrog lived in a gulch in a nunnery made of toothpicks. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cookies, 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 Mrs. Cow standing there, her hands on her artery. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cow," Miss Bullfrog shouted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," professed Mrs. Cow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" said Miss Bullfrog lamely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of bouillon?"

"I can't stay," squawked Mrs. Cow. I just want to ask you what you think of the gerbil that's come to the gulch.

"I really don't know," mouthed Miss Bullfrog. "I didn't know about any gerbil. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," begged Mrs. Cow sympathetically. "I heard that this gerbil likes to analyze candy canes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cow, 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 gerbils analyzing candy canes?"

"I can't imagine," pronounced Miss Bullfrog.

"What are we going to do about it?" queried Mrs. Cow.

"Appoint a committee?" declared Miss Bullfrog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cow had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," belched Miss Bullfrog impatiently, 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. Cow arrogantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fretted Miss Bullfrog ruefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on her front porch, looking out over the gulch and blinking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cow. Do come again."

"Just a minute," comforted Mrs. Cow oddly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Bullfrog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied boldly.