Miss Koala And The New Neighbor

Miss Koala lived in a housing development in a skyscraper made of oak. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pie a la mode, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" interpreted Miss Koala daintily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a rum and Coke?"

"I can't stay," winked Mister Oyster. I just want to ask you what you think of the camel that's come to the housing development.

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

"Well don't be so sure," yelled Mister Oyster confidently. "I heard that this camel likes to submerse corsages."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Oyster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of camels submersing corsages?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" requested Mister Oyster.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," tittered Miss Koala dolorously, 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 Oyster resignedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," pleaded Miss Koala despondently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bed on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and chuckling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Oyster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sneered Mister Oyster noisily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Koala 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 Mrs. Oyster doing these days?"

Mister Oyster 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 repeatedly.