Miss Beetle And The New Neighbor

Miss Beetle lived in a bog in a cottage made of feathers. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Parakeet standing there, his hands on his mouth. "How nice to see you, Mister Parakeet," Miss Beetle piped up, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whispered Mister Parakeet. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spewed Miss Beetle solemnly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a martini?"

"I can't stay," persisted Mister Parakeet. I just want to ask you what you think of the anteater that's come to the bog.

"I really don't know," gabbed Miss Beetle. "I didn't know about any anteater. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," peeped Mister Parakeet openly. "I heard that this anteater likes to bleach bats."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Parakeet, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the bog when we get a lot of anteaters bleaching bats?"

"I can't imagine," growled Miss Beetle.

"What are we going to do about it?" noted Mister Parakeet.

"Appoint a committee?" blubbered Miss Beetle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Parakeet had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," grieved Miss Beetle roughly, 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 Parakeet needlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squealed Miss Beetle elatedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on her front porch, looking out over the bog and chortling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Parakeet. Do come again."

"Just a minute," griped Mister Parakeet woefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Beetle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied grimly.