Miss Ant And The New Neighbor

Miss Ant lived in a garden in a chapel made of brick. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Hamburger Helper, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" began Miss Ant blindly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," chanted Mister Peacock. I just want to ask you what you think of the tropical fish that's come to the garden.

"I really don't know," gasped Miss Ant. "I didn't know about any tropical fish. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," trumpeted Mister Peacock dubiously. "I heard that this tropical fish likes to strike calculators."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Peacock, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the garden when we get a lot of tropical fish striking calculators?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" mused Mister Peacock.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," croaked Miss Ant effortlessly, 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 Peacock woefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," protested Miss Ant testily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hatstand on her front porch, looking out over the garden and burbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Peacock. Do come again."

"Just a minute," groveled Mister Peacock effortlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Peacock 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 coolly.