Miss Bat And The New Neighbor

Miss Bat lived in a field in a house made of nylon. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried okra, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Ladybug standing there, his hands on his funny bone. "How nice to see you, Mister Ladybug," Miss Bat squealed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," argued Mister Ladybug. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" burbled Miss Bat ignobly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an old fashioned?"

"I can't stay," avowed Mister Ladybug. I just want to ask you what you think of the squirrel that's come to the field.

"I really don't know," screamed Miss Bat. "I didn't know about any squirrel. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," affirmed Mister Ladybug irritably. "I heard that this squirrel likes to check pictures."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ladybug, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the field when we get a lot of squirrels checking pictures?"

"I can't imagine," expressed Miss Bat.

"What are we going to do about it?" pronounced Mister Ladybug.

"Appoint a committee?" drawled Miss Bat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ladybug had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cackled Miss Bat bitterly, 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 Ladybug boldly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," responded Miss Bat recklessly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the china hutch on her front porch, looking out over the field and squinting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ladybug. Do come again."

"Just a minute," lectured Mister Ladybug perkily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Bat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied happily.