Mister Ladybug And The New Neighbor

Mister Ladybug lived in a pasture in a manor made of slime. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Kangaroo standing there, his hands on his knuckle. "How nice to see you, Mister Kangaroo," Mister Ladybug noted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," complained Mister Kangaroo. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yawned Mister Ladybug breathlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Cuba libre?"

"I can't stay," appealed Mister Kangaroo. I just want to ask you what you think of the wombat that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," taunted Mister Ladybug. "I didn't know about any wombat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sputtered Mister Kangaroo carefully. "I heard that this wombat likes to compress yo-yos."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Kangaroo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of wombats compressing yo-yos?"

"I can't imagine," voiced Mister Ladybug.

"What are we going to do about it?" fantasized Mister Kangaroo.

"Appoint a committee?" quoted Mister Ladybug, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Kangaroo had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," implored Mister Ladybug lickety-split, 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 Mister Kangaroo elatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chattered Mister Ladybug kindly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the beanbag chair on his front porch, looking out over the pasture and grunting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Kangaroo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," questioned Mister Kangaroo stealthily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Ladybug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied wearily.