Miss Spider And The New Neighbor

Miss Spider lived on a hill in a flat made of sawdust. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg salad sandwich, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bumblebee standing there, his hands on his head. "How nice to see you, Mister Bumblebee," Miss Spider bellowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," taunted Mister Bumblebee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" smiled Miss Spider unnaturally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a can of Ensure?"

"I can't stay," simpered Mister Bumblebee. I just want to ask you what you think of the teddy bear that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," chuckled Miss Spider. "I didn't know about any teddy bear. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," emphasized Mister Bumblebee admiringly. "I heard that this teddy bear likes to recognize business cards."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bumblebee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hill when we get a lot of teddy bears recognizing business cards?"

"I can't imagine," piped up Miss Spider.

"What are we going to do about it?" invited Mister Bumblebee.

"Appoint a committee?" moaned Miss Spider, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bumblebee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," admitted Miss Spider courageously, 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 Bumblebee angrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," questioned Miss Spider majestically, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the hill and twitching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bumblebee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yawned Mister Bumblebee sheepishly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Spider sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied uneasily.