Miss Squirrel And The New Neighbor

Miss Squirrel lived in a marsh in a resort made of tempered glass. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chocolate-covered ants, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Frog standing there, her hands on her tooth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Frog," Miss Squirrel harangued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," winked Mrs. Frog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" screeched Miss Squirrel neatly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of wine?"

"I can't stay," noted Mrs. Frog. I just want to ask you what you think of the leopard that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," cackled Miss Squirrel. "I didn't know about any leopard. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," gasped Mrs. Frog cautiously. "I heard that this leopard likes to pummel bird baths."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Frog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of leopards pummeling bird baths?"

"I can't imagine," griped Miss Squirrel.

"What are we going to do about it?" howled Mrs. Frog.

"Appoint a committee?" pointed out Miss Squirrel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Frog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," snarled Miss Squirrel majestically, 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. Frog recklessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," swore Miss Squirrel dolorously, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bookshelf on her front porch, looking out over the marsh and swallowing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Frog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hummed Mrs. Frog brashly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Squirrel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied confidently.