Miss Kangaroo And The New Neighbor

Miss Kangaroo lived in a pasture in a loft made of thatch. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ceviche, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Pekingese standing there, her hands on her toe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Pekingese," Miss Kangaroo concluded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," screamed Mrs. Pekingese. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" debated Miss Kangaroo tensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a daiquiri?"

"I can't stay," hollered Mrs. Pekingese. I just want to ask you what you think of the ape that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," rationalized Miss Kangaroo. "I didn't know about any ape. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rebutted Mrs. Pekingese greedily. "I heard that this ape likes to box clocks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Pekingese, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of apes boxing clocks?"

"I can't imagine," fumed Miss Kangaroo.

"What are we going to do about it?" rationalized Mrs. Pekingese.

"Appoint a committee?" answered Miss Kangaroo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Pekingese had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," peeped Miss Kangaroo excitedly, 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. Pekingese angrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," murmured Miss Kangaroo offhandedly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the couch on her front porch, looking out over the pasture and dawdling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Pekingese. Do come again."

"Just a minute," acknowledged Mrs. Pekingese courageously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Kangaroo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied perkily.