Miss Parakeet And The New Neighbor

Miss Parakeet lived in a housing development in a sand castle made of cellophane. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover bread and butter, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Bird standing there, her hands on her wrist. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Bird," Miss Parakeet smirked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," quoted Mrs. Bird. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reminded Miss Parakeet joyously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," chimed Mrs. Bird. I just want to ask you what you think of the colt that's come to the housing development.

"I really don't know," mentioned Miss Parakeet. "I didn't know about any colt. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," squealed Mrs. Bird grandly. "I heard that this colt likes to fold keys."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bird, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the housing development when we get a lot of colts folding keys?"

"I can't imagine," sniped Miss Parakeet.

"What are we going to do about it?" judged Mrs. Bird.

"Appoint a committee?" jeered Miss Parakeet, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Bird had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," accused Miss Parakeet gracefully, 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. Bird nonchalantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," growled Miss Parakeet cheerfully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cupboard on her front porch, looking out over the housing development and running. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bird. Do come again."

"Just a minute," blathered Mrs. Bird boisterously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Parakeet sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied energetically.