Miss Toad And The New Neighbor

Miss Toad lived in an outback in a castle made of stucco. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hamburgers, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Burro standing there, her hands on her Achilles tendon. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Burro," Miss Toad said, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," enunciated Mrs. Burro. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" added Miss Toad pityingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," peeped Mrs. Burro. I just want to ask you what you think of the eagle that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," yawned Miss Toad. "I didn't know about any eagle. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mouthed Mrs. Burro timidly. "I heard that this eagle likes to break jars of olives."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Burro, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the outback when we get a lot of eagles breaking jars of olives?"

"I can't imagine," hissed Miss Toad.

"What are we going to do about it?" tittered Mrs. Burro.

"Appoint a committee?" retorted Miss Toad, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Burro had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," declaimed Miss Toad gracefully, 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. Burro arrogantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squealed Miss Toad openly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hope chest on her front porch, looking out over the outback and huffing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Burro. Do come again."

"Just a minute," bellowed Mrs. Burro fervently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Toad sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied languidly.