Mister Horse And The New Neighbor

Mister Horse lived on a ridge in a Spanish colonial made of junk cars. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Monster standing there, her hands on her mouth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Monster," Mister Horse concluded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yelped Mrs. Monster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rambled Mister Horse unnaturally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a piña colada?"

"I can't stay," chuckled Mrs. Monster. I just want to ask you what you think of the giraffe that's come to the ridge.

"I really don't know," complained Mister Horse. "I didn't know about any giraffe. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," revealed Mrs. Monster later. "I heard that this giraffe likes to recognize coins."

"Um, I don't know what to say," sneered Mister Horse, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Monster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the ridge when we get a lot of giraffes recognizing coins?"

"I can't imagine," whined Mister Horse.

"What are we going to do about it?" opined Mrs. Monster.

"Appoint a committee?" spouted Mister Horse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Monster had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," comforted Mister Horse gleefully, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding himself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mrs. Monster menacingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," wailed Mister Horse sorrowfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bench on his front porch, looking out over the ridge and glowering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Monster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," remarked Mrs. Monster busily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Horse thought he had answered, and was beginning to get menacing. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Monster doing these days?"

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

Mister Horse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied blankly.