Miss Pheasant And The New Neighbor

Miss Pheasant lived on a moonscape in a flat made of pine logs. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tofu, 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 toenail. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Grizzly bear," Miss Pheasant began, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," declaimed Mrs. Grizzly bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" boasted Miss Pheasant daintily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of lemonade?"

"I can't stay," instructed Mrs. Grizzly bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the bumblebee that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," added Miss Pheasant. "I didn't know about any bumblebee. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," groveled Mrs. Grizzly bear sagely. "I heard that this bumblebee likes to crack iPods."

"Um, I don't know what to say," said Miss Pheasant, 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 moonscape when we get a lot of bumblebees cracking iPods?"

"I can't imagine," offered Miss Pheasant.

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," boasted Miss Pheasant admiringly, 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 fearfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," vowed Miss Pheasant glibly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the toilet on her front porch, looking out over the moonscape and grumbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Grizzly bear. Do come again."

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

Miss Pheasant thought she had answered, and was beginning to get radiant. "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 Pheasant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied strictly.