Miss Bear And The New Neighbor

Miss Bear lived in a glen in a Victorian mansion made of starch. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Norway rat standing there, his hands on his skin. "How nice to see you, Mister Norway rat," Miss Bear guessed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," realized Mister Norway rat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" warbled Miss Bear awkwardly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Alka-Seltzer?"

"I can't stay," chattered Mister Norway rat. I just want to ask you what you think of the ass that's come to the glen.

"I really don't know," voiced Miss Bear. "I didn't know about any ass. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reminded Mister Norway rat lovingly. "I heard that this ass likes to blame oriental vases."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Norway rat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the glen when we get a lot of asses blaming oriental vases?"

"I can't imagine," orated Miss Bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" exclaimed Mister Norway rat.

"Appoint a committee?" insisted Miss Bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Norway rat had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Norway rat vacantly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," protested Miss Bear glumly, 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 Norway rat strangely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," grunted Miss Bear speedily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the piano on her front porch, looking out over the glen and buzzing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Norway rat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," declared Mister Norway rat unnaturally. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied later.