Mister Honeybee And The New Neighbor

Mister Honeybee lived on a battlefield in a studio made of limestone. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cookies, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cajoled Mister Honeybee trustingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of milk?"

"I can't stay," groveled Mrs. Bird. I just want to ask you what you think of the boar that's come to the battlefield.

"I really don't know," gasped Mister Honeybee. "I didn't know about any boar. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sighed Mrs. Bird neatly. "I heard that this boar likes to uncover iPads."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bird, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the battlefield when we get a lot of boars uncovering iPads?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" griped Mrs. Bird.

"Appoint a committee?" murmured Mister Honeybee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bird had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sighed Mister Honeybee offhandedly, 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. Bird shakily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yawned Mister Honeybee sheepishly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on his front porch, looking out over the battlefield and kneeling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bird. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yawned Mrs. Bird noisily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Bird 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 automatically.