Mister Doggie And The New Neighbor

Mister Doggie lived on a mountain in a sand castle made of plaster. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover falafel, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Kitten standing there, his hands on his face. "How nice to see you, Mister Kitten," Mister Doggie mumbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," mouthed Mister Kitten. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" raved Mister Doggie miserably, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Brandy Alexander?"

"I can't stay," revealed Mister Kitten. I just want to ask you what you think of the deer that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," cajoled Mister Doggie. "I didn't know about any deer. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cackled Mister Kitten valiantly. "I heard that this deer likes to box mushrooms."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Kitten, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of deer boxing mushrooms?"

"I can't imagine," repeated Mister Doggie.

"What are we going to do about it?" retorted Mister Kitten.

"Appoint a committee?" yelped Mister Doggie, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Kitten had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," belched Mister Doggie perkily, 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 Kitten innocently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," requested Mister Doggie lovingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the counter on his front porch, looking out over the mountain and dithering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Kitten. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intimated Mister Kitten shakily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Doggie sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied majestically.