Miss Koala And The New Neighbor

Miss Koala lived in a countryside in a motel made of cookie dough. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Hamburger Helper, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Dingo standing there, his hands on his palm. "How nice to see you, Mister Dingo," Miss Koala chanted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," exclaimed Mister Dingo. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" winked Miss Koala roughly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," hinted Mister Dingo. I just want to ask you what you think of the crow that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," grunted Miss Koala. "I didn't know about any crow. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," responded Mister Dingo miserably. "I heard that this crow likes to split diaries."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Dingo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of crows splitting diaries?"

"I can't imagine," uttered Miss Koala.

"What are we going to do about it?" boasted Mister Dingo.

"Appoint a committee?" reasoned Miss Koala, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dingo had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rebutted Miss Koala awkwardly, 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 Dingo deftly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," invited Miss Koala accidentally, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the sofa on her front porch, looking out over the countryside and doing nothing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dingo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," piped up Mister Dingo merrily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Koala sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gleefully.