Miss Llama And The New Neighbor

Miss Llama lived in a park in a skyscraper made of wood. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Swiss cheese, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Yeti standing there, his hands on his thorax. "How nice to see you, Mister Yeti," Miss Llama wept, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," wondered Mister Yeti. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" repeated Miss Llama sympathetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a can of Ensure?"

"I can't stay," offered Mister Yeti. I just want to ask you what you think of the crow that's come to the park.

"I really don't know," divulged Miss Llama. "I didn't know about any crow. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," quavered Mister Yeti silently. "I heard that this crow likes to chisel bells."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Yeti, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the park when we get a lot of crows chiseling bells?"

"I can't imagine," spewed Miss Llama.

"What are we going to do about it?" muttered Mister Yeti.

"Appoint a committee?" spouted Miss Llama, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Yeti had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Yeti lickety-split. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," emphasized Miss Llama fearfully, 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 Yeti gracefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," retorted Miss Llama repeatedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the futon on her front porch, looking out over the park and fidgeting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Yeti. Do come again."

"Just a minute," panted Mister Yeti temperamentally. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Llama sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied doubtfully.