Miss Opossum And The New Neighbor

Miss Opossum lived on a seacoast in a church made of candy. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tortillas, 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 Mister Hornet standing there, his hands on his ankle. "How nice to see you, Mister Hornet," Miss Opossum imitated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniped Mister Hornet. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" analyzed Miss Opossum noisily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mountain Dew?"

"I can't stay," murmured Mister Hornet. I just want to ask you what you think of the dormouse that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," warbled Miss Opossum. "I didn't know about any dormouse. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," swore Mister Hornet again. "I heard that this dormouse likes to measure decks of cards."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hornet, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of dormice measureing decks of cards?"

"I can't imagine," babbled Miss Opossum.

"What are we going to do about it?" blustered Mister Hornet.

"Appoint a committee?" urged Miss Opossum, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hornet had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yawned Miss Opossum lightly, 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 Hornet suspiciously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mouthed Miss Opossum lickety-split, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on her front porch, looking out over the seacoast and getting upset. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hornet. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blurted Mister Hornet rapidly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Opossum sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gleefully.