Mister Honeybee And The New Neighbor

Mister Honeybee lived at a crime scene in a palace made of chalk. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg drop soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Sloth standing there, his hands on his palm. "How nice to see you, Mister Sloth," Mister Honeybee yelped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chattered Mister Sloth. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" questioned Mister Honeybee obediently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a double latte?"

"I can't stay," lectured Mister Sloth. I just want to ask you what you think of the dodo bird that's come to the crime scene.

"I really don't know," ranted Mister Honeybee. "I didn't know about any dodo bird. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," fumed Mister Sloth anxiously. "I heard that this dodo bird likes to stab ironing boards."

"Um, I don't know what to say," swore Mister Honeybee, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Sloth, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the crime scene when we get a lot of dodo birds stabbing ironing boards?"

"I can't imagine," remarked Mister Honeybee.

"What are we going to do about it?" professed Mister Sloth.

"Appoint a committee?" began Mister Honeybee, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Sloth had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," asked Mister Honeybee blissfully, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Sloth fervently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," acknowledged Mister Honeybee demurely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on his front porch, looking out over the crime scene and screaming. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Sloth. Do come again."

"Just a minute," trumpeted Mister Sloth offhandedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Honeybee thought he had answered, and was beginning to get brassy. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Sloth doing these days?"

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

Mister Honeybee sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied lickety-split.