Miss Toad And The New Neighbor

Miss Toad lived in a circus tent in a chapel made of yarn. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Cheerios, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Goat standing there, her hands on her shin. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Goat," Miss Toad spat, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," decided Mrs. Goat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" called Miss Toad sadly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," nattered Mrs. Goat. I just want to ask you what you think of the rooster that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," uttered Miss Toad. "I didn't know about any rooster. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," griped Mrs. Goat strangely. "I heard that this rooster likes to cut vacuum cleaners."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Goat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of roosters cutting vacuum cleaners?"

"I can't imagine," raved Miss Toad.

"What are we going to do about it?" bawled Mrs. Goat.

"Appoint a committee?" rumored Miss Toad, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Goat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," declared Miss Toad ruefully, 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. Goat repeatedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," acknowledged Miss Toad furiously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on her front porch, looking out over the circus tent and chewing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Goat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," ranted Mrs. Goat grimly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Toad sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied swiftly.