Miss Bullfrog And The New Neighbor

Miss Bullfrog lived in a rainforest in a treehouse made of burlap. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried okra, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Panda standing there, her hands on her big toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Panda," Miss Bullfrog sobbed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," barked Mrs. Panda. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" croaked Miss Bullfrog lovingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?"

"I can't stay," hinted Mrs. Panda. I just want to ask you what you think of the magpie that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," piped up Miss Bullfrog. "I didn't know about any magpie. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," railed Mrs. Panda needlessly. "I heard that this magpie likes to kiss coat check tickets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Panda, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of magpies kissing coat check tickets?"

"I can't imagine," wept Miss Bullfrog.

"What are we going to do about it?" belched Mrs. Panda.

"Appoint a committee?" judged Miss Bullfrog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Panda had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," groaned Miss Bullfrog needlessly, 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. Panda offhandedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sighed Miss Bullfrog nonchalantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the catbird seat on her front porch, looking out over the rainforest and grunting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Panda. Do come again."

"Just a minute," admitted Mrs. Panda shakily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Bullfrog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied solemnly.