Mister Tapeworm And The New Neighbor

Mister Tapeworm lived at a crime scene in a sand castle made of canvas. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover corn on the cob, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Bumblebee standing there, his hands on his Achilles tendon. "How nice to see you, Mister Bumblebee," Mister Tapeworm declared, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," cajoled Mister Bumblebee. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" lamented Mister Tapeworm ruefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," roared Mister Bumblebee. I just want to ask you what you think of the grizzly bear that's come to the crime scene.

"I really don't know," proposed Mister Tapeworm. "I didn't know about any grizzly bear. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," provoked Mister Bumblebee mysteriously. "I heard that this grizzly bear likes to rebuild chairs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bumblebee, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the crime scene when we get a lot of grizzly bears rebuilding chairs?"

"I can't imagine," urged Mister Tapeworm.

"What are we going to do about it?" urged Mister Bumblebee.

"Appoint a committee?" asserted Mister Tapeworm, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bumblebee had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," complained Mister Tapeworm nervously, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Bumblebee lickety-split. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," laughed Mister Tapeworm woodenly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the mattress on his front porch, looking out over the crime scene and stepping aside. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bumblebee. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wept Mister Bumblebee vacantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Tapeworm thought he had answered, and was beginning to get awkward. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Bumblebee doing these days?"

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

Mister Tapeworm sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied energetically.