Miss Hornet And The New Neighbor

Miss Hornet lived in a rainforest in an igloo made of construction paper. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lasagna, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Pig standing there, his hands on his finger. "How nice to see you, Mister Pig," Miss Hornet yowled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," laughed Mister Pig. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" mused Miss Hornet blindly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tequila sunrise?"

"I can't stay," croaked Mister Pig. I just want to ask you what you think of the bat that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," debated Miss Hornet. "I didn't know about any bat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," scoffed Mister Pig bitterly. "I heard that this bat likes to grease pencils."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Pig, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of bats greasing pencils?"

"I can't imagine," whimpered Miss Hornet.

"What are we going to do about it?" agreed Mister Pig.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniveled Miss Hornet calmly, 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 Pig swiftly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squeaked Miss Hornet quietly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the washstand on her front porch, looking out over the rainforest and chewing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pig. Do come again."

"Just a minute," screamed Mister Pig narrowly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Hornet sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied breathlessly.