Miss Camel And The New Neighbor

Miss Camel lived on a ridge in a mansion made of peanut shells. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cotton candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

She straggled 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 stomach. "How nice to see you, Mister Badger," Miss Camel interrupted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stuttered Mister Badger. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" alleged Miss Camel cunningly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of milk?"

"I can't stay," continued Mister Badger. I just want to ask you what you think of the bandicoot that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," intimated Miss Camel. "I didn't know about any bandicoot. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mused Mister Badger firmly. "I heard that this bandicoot likes to probe fish."

"Um, I don't know what to say," observed Miss Camel, 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 ridge when we get a lot of bandicoots probing fish?"

"I can't imagine," retorted Miss Camel.

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

"Appoint a committee?" squeaked Miss Camel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Badger had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," retorted Miss Camel woodenly, 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 glumly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," requested Miss Camel gratefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the armoire on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and swallowing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Badger. Do come again."

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

Miss Camel thought she had answered, and was beginning to get hirsute. "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 Camel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied energetically.