Miss Bird And The New Neighbor

Miss Bird lived in a glen in a junk car made of wicker. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cotton candy, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur standing there, her hands on her funny bone. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur," Miss Bird sighed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," remarked Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" noted Miss Bird busily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cappuccino?"

"I can't stay," chimed Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. I just want to ask you what you think of the nightingale that's come to the glen.

"I really don't know," snorted Miss Bird. "I didn't know about any nightingale. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," piped up Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur roughly. "I heard that this nightingale likes to balance teacups."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the glen when we get a lot of nightingales balancing teacups?"

"I can't imagine," protested Miss Bird.

"What are we going to do about it?" exclaimed Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur.

"Appoint a committee?" moaned Miss Bird, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur courageously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," scoffed Miss Bird smoothly, 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. Ring-tailed lemur sweetly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," prattled Miss Bird clumsily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on her front porch, looking out over the glen and swooning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur. Do come again."

"Just a minute," answered Mrs. Ring-tailed lemur gratefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Bird sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied zestily.