Mister Squirrel And The New Neighbor

Mister Squirrel lived in a valley in a mud hut made of bark. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast Cornish game hen, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Ladybug standing there, his hands on his wrist. "How nice to see you, Mister Ladybug," Mister Squirrel scoffed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pointed out Mister Ladybug. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" indicated Mister Squirrel languidly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," emphasized Mister Ladybug. I just want to ask you what you think of the dodo bird that's come to the valley.

"I really don't know," wept Mister Squirrel. "I didn't know about any dodo bird. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," hollered Mister Ladybug hysterically. "I heard that this dodo bird likes to see necklaces."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ladybug, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the valley when we get a lot of dodo birds seeing necklaces?"

"I can't imagine," announced Mister Squirrel.

"What are we going to do about it?" affirmed Mister Ladybug.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," said Mister Squirrel queerly, 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 Ladybug nicely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," judged Mister Squirrel sweetly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the chest of drawers on his front porch, looking out over the valley and falling asleep. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ladybug. Do come again."

"Just a minute," responded Mister Ladybug blankly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Squirrel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied uneasily.