Miss Duck-billed Platypus And The New Neighbor

Miss Duck-billed platypus lived alongside a stream in a hut made of cookie dough. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pecan pie, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Crab standing there, her hands on her tooth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Crab," Miss Duck-billed platypus sniped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blustered Mrs. Crab. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" peeped Miss Duck-billed platypus craftily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a piña colada?"

"I can't stay," lectured Mrs. Crab. I just want to ask you what you think of the burro that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," breathed Miss Duck-billed platypus. "I didn't know about any burro. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," brought up Mrs. Crab positively. "I heard that this burro likes to grapple boxes of candy."

"Um, I don't know what to say," blathered Miss Duck-billed platypus, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Crab, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of burros grappling boxes of candy?"

"I can't imagine," agreed Miss Duck-billed platypus.

"What are we going to do about it?" peeped Mrs. Crab.

"Appoint a committee?" reminded Miss Duck-billed platypus, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Crab had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," observed Miss Duck-billed platypus obediently, 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. Crab fearlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yelped Miss Duck-billed platypus cleverly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the stream and hiccuping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Crab. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wailed Mrs. Crab nervously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Duck-billed platypus sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied pityingly.