Miss Jaguar And The New Neighbor

Miss Jaguar lived on a wasteland in a spa made of papyrus. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Ladybug standing there, his hands on his paw. "How nice to see you, Mister Ladybug," Miss Jaguar snarled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," breathed Mister Ladybug. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yelped Miss Jaguar caustically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a margarita?"

"I can't stay," giggled Mister Ladybug. I just want to ask you what you think of the bumblebee that's come to the wasteland.

"I really don't know," sighed Miss Jaguar. "I didn't know about any bumblebee. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," invited Mister Ladybug boisterously. "I heard that this bumblebee likes to manage duffel bags."

"Um, I don't know what to say," smirked Miss Jaguar, 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 wasteland when we get a lot of bumblebees managing duffel bags?"

"I can't imagine," mumbled Miss Jaguar.

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

"Appoint a committee?" indicated Miss Jaguar, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ladybug had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," grieved Miss Jaguar bitterly, 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 Ladybug ignobly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," exploded Miss Jaguar neatly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the workbench on her front porch, looking out over the wasteland and nodding off. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ladybug. Do come again."

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

Miss Jaguar thought she had answered, and was beginning to get hysterical. "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?"

Miss Jaguar sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied wryly.