Miss Toad And The New Neighbor

Miss Toad lived on a grassy knoll in a retreat made of chicken wire. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover popcorn, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bandicoot standing there, his hands on his heart. "How nice to see you, Mister Bandicoot," Miss Toad insisted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," rambled Mister Bandicoot. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" begged Miss Toad thoughtfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a soda?"

"I can't stay," appealed Mister Bandicoot. I just want to ask you what you think of the crow that's come to the grassy knoll.

"I really don't know," orated Miss Toad. "I didn't know about any crow. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," emphasized Mister Bandicoot resignedly. "I heard that this crow likes to ruin feathers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bandicoot, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassy knoll when we get a lot of crows ruining feathers?"

"I can't imagine," observed Miss Toad.

"What are we going to do about it?" voiced Mister Bandicoot.

"Appoint a committee?" tittered Miss Toad, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bandicoot had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Bandicoot breathlessly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," alleged Miss Toad sternly, 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 Mister Bandicoot slowly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," prattled Miss Toad daintily, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on her front porch, looking out over the grassy knoll and hiding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bandicoot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shrieked Mister Bandicoot later. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Toad sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied ruefully.