Miss Duck And The New Neighbor

Miss Duck lived at a dump in a castle made of cloth. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fondue, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Panda standing there, his hands on his neck. "How nice to see you, Mister Panda," Miss Duck said, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," nattered Mister Panda. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" declared Miss Duck fondly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," blathered Mister Panda. I just want to ask you what you think of the musk-ox that's come to the dump.

"I really don't know," pleaded Miss Duck. "I didn't know about any musk-ox. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," announced Mister Panda furiously. "I heard that this musk-ox likes to curl bouquets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Panda, 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 musk-oxen curling bouquets?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" provoked Mister Panda.

"Appoint a committee?" articulated Miss Duck, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Panda had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," prattled Miss Duck slowly, 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 Panda sorrowfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sobbed Miss Duck unexpectedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the dump and digesting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Panda. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cajoled Mister Panda zestily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Duck sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied curiously.