Miss Aardvark And The New Neighbor

Miss Aardvark lived in a meadow in a hut made of gingerbread. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover popcorn, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Grizzly bear standing there, her hands on her big toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Grizzly bear," Miss Aardvark enunciated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," retorted Mrs. Grizzly bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" announced Miss Aardvark cautiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," squealed Mrs. Grizzly bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the mouse that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," sniveled Miss Aardvark. "I didn't know about any mouse. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rambled Mrs. Grizzly bear unnaturally. "I heard that this mouse likes to package pickles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Grizzly bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the meadow when we get a lot of mice packaging pickles?"

"I can't imagine," whimpered Miss Aardvark.

"What are we going to do about it?" babbled Mrs. Grizzly bear.

"Appoint a committee?" debated Miss Aardvark, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Grizzly bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Grizzly bear menacingly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," sputtered Miss Aardvark menacingly, 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. Grizzly bear silently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," worried Miss Aardvark fondly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on her front porch, looking out over the meadow and shrugging. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Grizzly bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," repeated Mrs. Grizzly bear peevishly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Aardvark sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gently.