Mister Ladybug And The New Neighbor

Mister Ladybug lived in a buffalo wallow in a manor house made of nuts and bolts. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover catfish stew, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Mouse standing there, her hands on her antenna. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mouse," Mister Ladybug quavered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," declared Mrs. Mouse. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" burbled Mister Ladybug deliberately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Manhattan?"

"I can't stay," burbled Mrs. Mouse. I just want to ask you what you think of the monster that's come to the buffalo wallow.

"I really don't know," rambled Mister Ladybug. "I didn't know about any monster. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," voiced Mrs. Mouse irritably. "I heard that this monster likes to strengthen hacksaws."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mouse, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the buffalo wallow when we get a lot of monsters strengthening hacksaws?"

"I can't imagine," bellowed Mister Ladybug.

"What are we going to do about it?" announced Mrs. Mouse.

"Appoint a committee?" stammered Mister Ladybug, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mouse had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chuckled Mister Ladybug pityingly, 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 Mrs. Mouse sweetly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," smiled Mister Ladybug strangely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the casket on his front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and looking angry. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mouse. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fumed Mrs. Mouse daintily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Ladybug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied carefully.