Miss Ant And The New Neighbor

Miss Ant lived in a canyon in a boxcar made of enamel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cotton candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Crocodile standing there, her hands on her little toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Crocodile," Miss Ant declared, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sneered Mrs. Crocodile. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" whined Miss Ant fearlessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of papaya juice?"

"I can't stay," imitated Mrs. Crocodile. I just want to ask you what you think of the Doberman that's come to the canyon.

"I really don't know," nattered Miss Ant. "I didn't know about any Doberman. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," declaimed Mrs. Crocodile calmly. "I heard that this Doberman likes to soak darts."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Crocodile, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the canyon when we get a lot of Dobermans soaking darts?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Miss Ant.

"What are we going to do about it?" reasoned Mrs. Crocodile.

"Appoint a committee?" clarified Miss Ant, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Crocodile had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," added Miss Ant threateningly, 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. Crocodile flightily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," announced Miss Ant openly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the four-poster bed on her front porch, looking out over the canyon and flailing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Crocodile. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mumbled Mrs. Crocodile wearily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied viciously.