Miss Monster And The New Neighbor

Miss Monster lived at a dump in a flat made of starch. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Hamburger Helper, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Beetle standing there, her hands on her esophagus. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Beetle," Miss Monster mumbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," warbled Mrs. Beetle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reasoned Miss Monster gleefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of eggnog?"

"I can't stay," hinted Mrs. Beetle. I just want to ask you what you think of the bullfrog that's come to the dump.

"I really don't know," requested Miss Monster. "I didn't know about any bullfrog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sighed Mrs. Beetle sympathetically. "I heard that this bullfrog likes to review daisies."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Beetle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dump when we get a lot of bullfrogs reviewing daisies?"

"I can't imagine," voiced Miss Monster.

"What are we going to do about it?" responded Mrs. Beetle.

"Appoint a committee?" blubbered Miss Monster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Beetle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," trumpeted Miss Monster sympathetically, 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. Beetle thankfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," crooned Miss Monster nicely, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on her front porch, looking out over the dump and swaying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Beetle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniveled Mrs. Beetle lightly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Monster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied blindly.