Miss Magpie And The New Neighbor

Miss Magpie lived in an arroyo in a park bench made of noodles. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover crab rangoon, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bunny standing there, his hands on his tongue. "How nice to see you, Mister Bunny," Miss Magpie orated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yawned Mister Bunny. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" roared Miss Magpie uselessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," proposed Mister Bunny. I just want to ask you what you think of the raven that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," yowled Miss Magpie. "I didn't know about any raven. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," continued Mister Bunny automatically. "I heard that this raven likes to stack soccer balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bunny, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of ravens stacking soccer balls?"

"I can't imagine," urged Miss Magpie.

"What are we going to do about it?" appealed Mister Bunny.

"Appoint a committee?" simpered Miss Magpie, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bunny had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," comforted Miss Magpie intensely, 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 Mister Bunny majestically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," shuddered Miss Magpie ruefully, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the washing machine on her front porch, looking out over the arroyo and staring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bunny. Do come again."

"Just a minute," announced Mister Bunny patiently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Magpie sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied roughly.