Miss Duck-billed Platypus And The New Neighbor

Miss Duck-billed platypus lived in a garden in a bungalow made of walnut. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cotton candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Porcupine standing there, her hands on her wig. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Porcupine," Miss Duck-billed platypus sniveled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," suggested Mrs. Porcupine. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" acknowledged Miss Duck-billed platypus brashly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sassafras tea?"

"I can't stay," commented Mrs. Porcupine. I just want to ask you what you think of the magpie that's come to the garden.

"I really don't know," questioned Miss Duck-billed platypus. "I didn't know about any magpie. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," fantasized Mrs. Porcupine gently. "I heard that this magpie likes to attack flowers."

"Um, I don't know what to say," requested Miss Duck-billed platypus, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Porcupine, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the garden when we get a lot of magpies attacking flowers?"

"I can't imagine," chimed Miss Duck-billed platypus.

"What are we going to do about it?" ranted Mrs. Porcupine.

"Appoint a committee?" intoned Miss Duck-billed platypus, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Porcupine had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," judged Miss Duck-billed platypus automatically, 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. Porcupine haughtily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," jeered Miss Duck-billed platypus miserably, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on her front porch, looking out over the garden and huffing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Porcupine. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shouted Mrs. Porcupine nimbly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Duck-billed platypus sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied nimbly.