Miss Hamster And The New Neighbor

Miss Hamster lived in a rainforest in a resort made of sweat and toil. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover smoked salmon, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Bunny standing there, her hands on her hairdo. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bunny," Miss Hamster protested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," whined Mrs. Bunny. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" declared Miss Hamster dubiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a V8?"

"I can't stay," began Mrs. Bunny. I just want to ask you what you think of the oyster that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," cackled Miss Hamster. "I didn't know about any oyster. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chortled Mrs. Bunny carelessly. "I heard that this oyster likes to decorate compasses."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bunny, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of oysters decorating compasses?"

"I can't imagine," declared Miss Hamster.

"What are we going to do about it?" insisted Mrs. Bunny.

"Appoint a committee?" observed Miss Hamster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bunny had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hummed Miss Hamster fiercely, 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. Bunny shakily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," begged Miss Hamster mysteriously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on her front porch, looking out over the rainforest and chanting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bunny. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sputtered Mrs. Bunny lazily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Hamster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied numbly.