Mister Ox And The New Neighbor

Mister Ox lived in a cave in a mud hut made of thatch. 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 padded to the door, wondering who would be stopping for a visit at this time of day.

He was surprised to see Mister Bandicoot standing there, his hands on his arm. "How nice to see you, Mister Bandicoot," Mister Ox crooned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," hinted Mister Bandicoot. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" concluded Mister Ox sarcastically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of fruit punch?"

"I can't stay," pointed out Mister Bandicoot. I just want to ask you what you think of the lemur that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," burbled Mister Ox. "I didn't know about any lemur. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sighed Mister Bandicoot sagely. "I heard that this lemur likes to banish iPods."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Bandicoot, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of lemurs banishing iPods?"

"I can't imagine," blustered Mister Ox.

"What are we going to do about it?" squealed Mister Bandicoot.

"Appoint a committee?" preached Mister Ox, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bandicoot had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," screamed Mister Ox trustingly, 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 Bandicoot hopelessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," belched Mister Ox fiercely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the toilet on his front porch, looking out over the cave and jerking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bandicoot. Do come again."

"Just a minute," spoke up Mister Bandicoot shyly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Ox sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied speedily.