Miss Ant And The New Neighbor

Miss Ant lived on a ridge in a palace made of deer hide. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fondue, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Cockatiel standing there, his hands on his elbow. "How nice to see you, Mister Cockatiel," Miss Ant reminded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," queried Mister Cockatiel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" asked Miss Ant hopelessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a 7-Up?"

"I can't stay," mumbled Mister Cockatiel. I just want to ask you what you think of the puppy that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," affirmed Miss Ant. "I didn't know about any puppy. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," declared Mister Cockatiel sharply. "I heard that this puppy likes to close batons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cockatiel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of puppies closing batons?"

"I can't imagine," suggested Miss Ant.

"What are we going to do about it?" sniped Mister Cockatiel.

"Appoint a committee?" shuddered Miss Ant, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cockatiel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," invited Miss Ant innocently, 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 Cockatiel charmingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fantasized Miss Ant boldly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on her front porch, looking out over the ridge and sighing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cockatiel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mentioned Mister Cockatiel nonchalantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied bitterly.