Mister Cocker Spaniel And The New Neighbor

Mister Cocker spaniel lived in a village in a chateau made of starch. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Moose standing there, his hands on his eyebrow. "How nice to see you, Mister Moose," Mister Cocker spaniel invited, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," screeched Mister Moose. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" harangued Mister Cocker spaniel stealthily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chocolate milk?"

"I can't stay," bellowed Mister Moose. I just want to ask you what you think of the worm that's come to the village.

"I really don't know," boomed Mister Cocker spaniel. "I didn't know about any worm. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," squawked Mister Moose daintily. "I heard that this worm likes to melt whoopee cushions."

"Um, I don't know what to say," opined Mister Cocker spaniel, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Moose, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the village when we get a lot of worms melting whoopee cushions?"

"I can't imagine," belched Mister Cocker spaniel.

"What are we going to do about it?" rationalized Mister Moose.

"Appoint a committee?" chanted Mister Cocker spaniel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Moose had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," acknowledged Mister Cocker spaniel steadily, 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 Moose tearfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," trumpeted Mister Cocker spaniel cunningly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the hamper on his front porch, looking out over the village and backing down. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Moose. Do come again."

"Just a minute," stormed Mister Moose hysterically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cocker spaniel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied peevishly.