Mister Lamb And The New Neighbor

Mister Lamb lived alongside a stream in a penthouse made of ceramic. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg salad sandwich, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Caribou standing there, his hands on his Adam's apple. "How nice to see you, Mister Caribou," Mister Lamb repeated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," responded Mister Caribou. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" interpreted Mister Lamb sourly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a fruit smoothie?"

"I can't stay," urged Mister Caribou. I just want to ask you what you think of the kitty that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," spewed Mister Lamb. "I didn't know about any kitty. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," imitated Mister Caribou joyously. "I heard that this kitty likes to develop bags of potato chips."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Caribou, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of kitties developing bags of potato chips?"

"I can't imagine," pronounced Mister Lamb.

"What are we going to do about it?" gasped Mister Caribou.

"Appoint a committee?" chimed Mister Lamb, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Caribou had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," observed Mister Lamb swiftly, 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 Mister Caribou confidently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," screamed Mister Lamb impatiently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stairway on his front porch, looking out over the stream and trembling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Caribou. Do come again."

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

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

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

Mister Lamb sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied again.