Miss Grizzly Bear And The New Neighbor

Miss Grizzly bear lived in a hayfield in a chateau made of taffeta. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pot roast, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Badger standing there, her hands on her beard. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Badger," Miss Grizzly bear belched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," quavered Mrs. Badger. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" raved Miss Grizzly bear dreamily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cappuccino?"

"I can't stay," scoffed Mrs. Badger. I just want to ask you what you think of the doggie that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," sobbed Miss Grizzly bear. "I didn't know about any doggie. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," pleaded Mrs. Badger woodenly. "I heard that this doggie likes to stab pumpkins."

"Um, I don't know what to say," belched Miss Grizzly bear, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Badger, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of doggies stabbing pumpkins?"

"I can't imagine," chattered Miss Grizzly bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" sniffed Mrs. Badger.

"Appoint a committee?" affirmed Miss Grizzly bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Badger had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," yowled Miss Grizzly bear grudgingly, 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. Badger strangely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reasoned Miss Grizzly bear valiantly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the hammock on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and shivering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Badger. Do come again."

"Just a minute," revealed Mrs. Badger crossly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Grizzly bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied speedily.