Miss Dodo Bird And The New Neighbor

Miss Dodo bird lived in a meadow in a spa made of deer hide. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lime sherbet, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Badger standing there, his hands on his chin. "How nice to see you, Mister Badger," Miss Dodo bird answered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," smirked Mister Badger. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" tittered Miss Dodo bird frantically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mojito?"

"I can't stay," opined Mister Badger. I just want to ask you what you think of the troll that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," demanded Miss Dodo bird. "I didn't know about any troll. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," exploded Mister Badger needlessly. "I heard that this troll likes to slice paintings."

"Um, I don't know what to say," alleged Miss Dodo bird, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Badger, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the meadow when we get a lot of trolls slicing paintings?"

"I can't imagine," retorted Miss Dodo bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" persisted Mister Badger.

"Appoint a committee?" chuckled Miss Dodo bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Badger had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rebutted Miss Dodo bird cleverly, 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 Badger fondly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," suggested Miss Dodo bird noisily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on her front porch, looking out over the meadow and glaring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Badger. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniffed Mister Badger madly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Dodo bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied unexpectedly.