Mister Dinosaur And The New Neighbor

Mister Dinosaur lived in a landfill in a Victorian mansion made of plaster. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cotton candy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Polar bear standing there, her hands on her brain. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Polar bear," Mister Dinosaur uttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blubbered Mrs. Polar bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" judged Mister Dinosaur delicately, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apple juice?"

"I can't stay," requested Mrs. Polar bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the mink that's come to the landfill.

"I really don't know," simpered Mister Dinosaur. "I didn't know about any mink. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," stated Mrs. Polar bear delicately. "I heard that this mink likes to blame mirrors."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Polar bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the landfill when we get a lot of minks blaming mirrors?"

"I can't imagine," spouted Mister Dinosaur.

"What are we going to do about it?" commented Mrs. Polar bear.

"Appoint a committee?" swore Mister Dinosaur, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Polar bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Polar bear confidently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," vowed Mister Dinosaur blankly, 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. Polar bear ingeniously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," invited Mister Dinosaur anxiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on his front porch, looking out over the landfill and cringing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Polar bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chattered Mrs. Polar bear tensely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dinosaur sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied pitifully.