Miss Hedgehog And The New Neighbor

Miss Hedgehog lived alongside a stream in a chapel made of drywall. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried chicken, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Groundhog standing there, her hands on her midriff. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Groundhog," Miss Hedgehog yammered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," clarified Mrs. Groundhog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" uttered Miss Hedgehog testily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of tea?"

"I can't stay," avowed Mrs. Groundhog. I just want to ask you what you think of the gecko that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," bragged Miss Hedgehog. "I didn't know about any gecko. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," called Mrs. Groundhog woodenly. "I heard that this gecko likes to box dollar bills."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Groundhog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of geckos boxing dollar bills?"

"I can't imagine," laughed Miss Hedgehog.

"What are we going to do about it?" pleaded Mrs. Groundhog.

"Appoint a committee?" ranted Miss Hedgehog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Groundhog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniveled Miss Hedgehog crazily, 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 Mrs. Groundhog properly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," professed Miss Hedgehog unabashedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the counter on her front porch, looking out over the stream and getting frazzled. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Groundhog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squeaked Mrs. Groundhog wearily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Hedgehog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied shakily.