Miss Crocodile And The New Neighbor

Miss Crocodile lived on a veld in a hut made of sod. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pretzels, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Reindeer standing there, his hands on his leg. "How nice to see you, Mister Reindeer," Miss Crocodile roared, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," cried Mister Reindeer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chattered Miss Crocodile gently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot cider?"

"I can't stay," screeched Mister Reindeer. I just want to ask you what you think of the wombat that's come to the veld.

"I really don't know," phrased Miss Crocodile. "I didn't know about any wombat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," screeched Mister Reindeer queerly. "I heard that this wombat likes to spin pairs of pliers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Reindeer, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the veld when we get a lot of wombats spinning pairs of pliers?"

"I can't imagine," scoffed Miss Crocodile.

"What are we going to do about it?" rumored Mister Reindeer.

"Appoint a committee?" analyzed Miss Crocodile, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Reindeer had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," called Miss Crocodile ingeniously, 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 Reindeer resignedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sniped Miss Crocodile violently, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the overstuffed chair on her front porch, looking out over the veld and muttering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Reindeer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squawked Mister Reindeer daintily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Crocodile sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied boisterously.