Miss Opossum And The New Neighbor

Miss Opossum lived in a glen in a cardboard box made of peanut butter. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cherries jubilee, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Guinea pig standing there, his hands on his intestine. "How nice to see you, Mister Guinea pig," Miss Opossum rebutted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spouted Mister Guinea pig. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" laughed Miss Opossum tearfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cambric tea?"

"I can't stay," decided Mister Guinea pig. I just want to ask you what you think of the hamster that's come to the glen.

"I really don't know," invited Miss Opossum. "I didn't know about any hamster. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," boasted Mister Guinea pig firmly. "I heard that this hamster likes to fold pencil sharpeners."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Guinea pig, 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 hamsters folding pencil sharpeners?"

"I can't imagine," reminded Miss Opossum.

"What are we going to do about it?" complained Mister Guinea pig.

"Appoint a committee?" concluded Miss Opossum, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Guinea pig had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Guinea pig joyously. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," debated Miss Opossum diligently, 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 Guinea pig frantically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," called Miss Opossum stupidly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on her front porch, looking out over the glen and yelping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Guinea pig. Do come again."

"Just a minute," cried Mister Guinea pig vacantly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Miss Opossum sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied strictly.