Miss Ladybug And The New Neighbor

Miss Ladybug lived in a hayfield in a wigwam made of Saran Wrap. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster bisque, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Jackal standing there, her hands on her stomach. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Jackal," Miss Ladybug intoned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," babbled Mrs. Jackal. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" wept Miss Ladybug haughtily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," squealed Mrs. Jackal. I just want to ask you what you think of the hyena that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," guessed Miss Ladybug. "I didn't know about any hyena. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," acknowledged Mrs. Jackal humbly. "I heard that this hyena likes to stack chairs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Jackal, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of hyenas stacking chairs?"

"I can't imagine," vowed Miss Ladybug.

"What are we going to do about it?" fretted Mrs. Jackal.

"Appoint a committee?" grunted Miss Ladybug, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Jackal had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," croaked Miss Ladybug cautiously, 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. Jackal properly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mouthed Miss Ladybug queerly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on her front porch, looking out over the hayfield and fretting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Jackal. Do come again."

"Just a minute," crooned Mrs. Jackal blissfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Ladybug sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied joyously.