Mister Tapeworm And The New Neighbor

Mister Tapeworm lived on a trail in a sand castle made of sandstone. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg drop soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Honeybee standing there, his hands on his head. "How nice to see you, Mister Honeybee," Mister Tapeworm concluded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," acknowledged Mister Honeybee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" indicated Mister Tapeworm furiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of orange juice?"

"I can't stay," affirmed Mister Honeybee. I just want to ask you what you think of the worm that's come to the trail.

"I really don't know," accused Mister Tapeworm. "I didn't know about any worm. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rambled Mister Honeybee furiously. "I heard that this worm likes to trim peaches."

"Um, I don't know what to say," smiled Mister Tapeworm, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Honeybee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the trail when we get a lot of worms trimming peaches?"

"I can't imagine," bawled Mister Tapeworm.

"What are we going to do about it?" grieved Mister Honeybee.

"Appoint a committee?" stammered Mister Tapeworm, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Honeybee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," blustered Mister Tapeworm narrowly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Honeybee dolefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," railed Mister Tapeworm brightly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on his front porch, looking out over the trail and coming back. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Honeybee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," articulated Mister Honeybee courteously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Tapeworm thought he had answered, and was beginning to get brassy. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Honeybee doing these days?"

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

Mister Tapeworm sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied numbly.