Miss Ladybug And The New Neighbor

Miss Ladybug lived in a housing development in a wigwam made of Elmer's glue. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni and cheese, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Muskrat standing there, her hands on her hangnail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Muskrat," Miss Ladybug screeched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," conversed Mrs. Muskrat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" grunted Miss Ladybug fondly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," exploded Mrs. Muskrat. I just want to ask you what you think of the seal that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," snarled Miss Ladybug. "I didn't know about any seal. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," demanded Mrs. Muskrat lamely. "I heard that this seal likes to kick photographs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Muskrat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of seals kicking photographs?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" answered Mrs. Muskrat.

"Appoint a committee?" shuddered Miss Ladybug, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Muskrat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," phrased Miss Ladybug despondently, 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. Muskrat miserably. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," divulged Miss Ladybug miserably, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and freezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Muskrat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," continued Mrs. Muskrat daringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Muskrat 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 menacingly.