Miss Bison And The New Neighbor

Miss Bison lived in a hayfield in a houseboat made of ceramic. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Hermit crab standing there, her hands on her abdomen. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Hermit crab," Miss Bison spoke up, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," grieved Mrs. Hermit crab. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yawned Miss Bison neatly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a mint julep?"

"I can't stay," acknowledged Mrs. Hermit crab. I just want to ask you what you think of the koala that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," disputed Miss Bison. "I didn't know about any koala. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cajoled Mrs. Hermit crab nimbly. "I heard that this koala likes to grasp washrags."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hermit crab, 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 koalas grasping washrags?"

"I can't imagine," rumored Miss Bison.

"What are we going to do about it?" nattered Mrs. Hermit crab.

"Appoint a committee?" hinted Miss Bison, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Hermit crab had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Hermit crab energetically. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," yelled Miss Bison vigorously, 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. Hermit crab woodenly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," alleged Miss Bison irritably, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the desk on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and squeaking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hermit crab. Do come again."

"Just a minute," acknowledged Mrs. Hermit crab nonchalantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Bison sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied firmly.