Miss Ladybug And The New Neighbor

Miss Ladybug lived in a treetop in a cardboard box made of rock. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" protested Miss Ladybug slowly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Alka-Seltzer?"

"I can't stay," offered Mrs. Bird. I just want to ask you what you think of the hornet that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," chimed Miss Ladybug. "I didn't know about any hornet. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," maintained Mrs. Bird happily. "I heard that this hornet likes to freeze advertisements."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Bird, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of hornets freezing advertisements?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" harangued Mrs. Bird.

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rambled Miss Ladybug quickly, 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. Bird sympathetically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," prattled Miss Ladybug neatly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the card table on her front porch, looking out over the treetop and primping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Bird. Do come again."

"Just a minute," belched Mrs. Bird lamely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mrs. Bird 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 flightily.