Mister Bumblebee And The New Neighbor

Mister Bumblebee lived in a marsh in an office made of asbestos. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover blueberry pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Flea standing there, her hands on her little toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Flea," Mister Bumblebee imitated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shrieked Mrs. Flea. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" piped up Mister Bumblebee busily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," chimed Mrs. Flea. I just want to ask you what you think of the computer that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," trumpeted Mister Bumblebee. "I didn't know about any computer. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sniped Mrs. Flea crankily. "I heard that this computer likes to whack handkerchiefs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Flea, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of computers whacking handkerchiefs?"

"I can't imagine," nattered Mister Bumblebee.

"What are we going to do about it?" sputtered Mrs. Flea.

"Appoint a committee?" imitated Mister Bumblebee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Flea had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rumored Mister Bumblebee deftly, 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 Mrs. Flea ruefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yelped Mister Bumblebee timidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the armoire on his front porch, looking out over the marsh and adjusting the clock. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Flea. Do come again."

"Just a minute," raved Mrs. Flea narrowly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bumblebee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied recklessly.