Miss Wallaby And The New Neighbor

Miss Wallaby lived in a rainforest in a trough made of mahogany. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dry toast, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Camel standing there, her hands on her hair. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Camel," Miss Wallaby worried, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sneered Mrs. Camel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" guessed Miss Wallaby diligently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a rum and Coke?"

"I can't stay," realized Mrs. Camel. I just want to ask you what you think of the anteater that's come to the rainforest.

"I really don't know," griped Miss Wallaby. "I didn't know about any anteater. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shrieked Mrs. Camel lickety-split. "I heard that this anteater likes to fry cans of shaving cream."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Camel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the rainforest when we get a lot of anteaters frying cans of shaving cream?"

"I can't imagine," shouted Miss Wallaby.

"What are we going to do about it?" vouched Mrs. Camel.

"Appoint a committee?" yelled Miss Wallaby, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Camel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," alleged Miss Wallaby valiantly, 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. Camel uselessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fantasized Miss Wallaby sharply, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bookshelf on her front porch, looking out over the rainforest and groaning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Camel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reasoned Mrs. Camel cruelly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Wallaby sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied strictly.