Miss Kangaroo And The New Neighbor

Miss Kangaroo lived on a savanna in a box made of dirt. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover refried beans, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Raven standing there, her hands on her wrist. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Raven," Miss Kangaroo explained, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," explained Mrs. Raven. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" proposed Miss Kangaroo admiringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," prattled Mrs. Raven. I just want to ask you what you think of the puma that's come to the savanna.

"I really don't know," screeched Miss Kangaroo. "I didn't know about any puma. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rumored Mrs. Raven confidently. "I heard that this puma likes to hurl teddy bears."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Raven, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the savanna when we get a lot of pumas hurling teddy bears?"

"I can't imagine," invited Miss Kangaroo.

"What are we going to do about it?" taunted Mrs. Raven.

"Appoint a committee?" mentioned Miss Kangaroo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Raven had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," enunciated Miss Kangaroo urgently, 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. Raven furiously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," concluded Miss Kangaroo needlessly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on her front porch, looking out over the savanna and crying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Raven. Do come again."

"Just a minute," roared Mrs. Raven resignedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Kangaroo 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 Mister Raven doing these days?"

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

Miss Kangaroo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied breathlessly.