Mister Honeybee And The New Neighbor

Mister Honeybee lived on a cliff in a KOA Kampground made of wax. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pretzels, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Brine shrimp standing there, her hands on her larynx. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Brine shrimp," Mister Honeybee winked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," asked Mrs. Brine shrimp. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" said Mister Honeybee needlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of Kool-Aid?"

"I can't stay," said Mrs. Brine shrimp. I just want to ask you what you think of the banana slug that's come to the cliff.

"I really don't know," shrieked Mister Honeybee. "I didn't know about any banana slug. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," realized Mrs. Brine shrimp haughtily. "I heard that this banana slug likes to slice hand puppets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Brine shrimp, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cliff when we get a lot of banana slugs slicing hand puppets?"

"I can't imagine," fretted Mister Honeybee.

"What are we going to do about it?" interrupted Mrs. Brine shrimp.

"Appoint a committee?" chuckled Mister Honeybee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Brine shrimp had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Brine shrimp lightly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," conversed Mister Honeybee breathlessly, 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 Mrs. Brine shrimp wildly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," affirmed Mister Honeybee woodenly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the table on his front porch, looking out over the cliff and buzzing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Brine shrimp. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fantasized Mrs. Brine shrimp dolorously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Honeybee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied defiantly.