Miss Caribou And The New Neighbor

Miss Caribou lived in a village in a retreat made of ribbons. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cinnamon toast, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Toad standing there, his hands on his hip. "How nice to see you, Mister Toad," Miss Caribou stuttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," offered Mister Toad. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spoke up Miss Caribou crossly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tonic?"

"I can't stay," roared Mister Toad. I just want to ask you what you think of the tarantula that's come to the village.

"I really don't know," retorted Miss Caribou. "I didn't know about any tarantula. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," warbled Mister Toad cleverly. "I heard that this tarantula likes to reinforce stamps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Toad, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the village when we get a lot of tarantulas reinforcing stamps?"

"I can't imagine," sniveled Miss Caribou.

"What are we going to do about it?" scoffed Mister Toad.

"Appoint a committee?" snarled Miss Caribou, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Toad had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," laughed Miss Caribou automatically, 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 Toad grimly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," accused Miss Caribou wearily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the sofa on her front porch, looking out over the village and throwing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Toad. Do come again."

"Just a minute," swore Mister Toad courageously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Caribou sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied boisterously.