Miss Frog And The New Neighbor

Miss Frog lived in a countryside in a hovel made of cloth. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cinnamon toast, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Poodle standing there, his hands on his beard. "How nice to see you, Mister Poodle," Miss Frog avowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," groaned Mister Poodle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" articulated Miss Frog doubtfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?"

"I can't stay," complained Mister Poodle. I just want to ask you what you think of the turtle that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," admitted Miss Frog. "I didn't know about any turtle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," blubbered Mister Poodle crankily. "I heard that this turtle likes to load toothbrushes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Poodle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of turtles loading toothbrushes?"

"I can't imagine," remarked Miss Frog.

"What are we going to do about it?" divulged Mister Poodle.

"Appoint a committee?" snarled Miss Frog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Poodle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sneered Miss Frog gratefully, 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 Poodle crankily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," commented Miss Frog woefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on her front porch, looking out over the countryside and expectorating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Poodle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," concluded Mister Poodle pityingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Frog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied grandly.