Mister Hedgehog And The New Neighbor

Mister Hedgehog lived on an island in a church made of mud bricks. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sushi, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Kangaroo standing there, her hands on her eye. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Kangaroo," Mister Hedgehog yawned, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," wondered Mrs. Kangaroo. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hummed Mister Hedgehog blankly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of carrot juice?"

"I can't stay," yelped Mrs. Kangaroo. I just want to ask you what you think of the lamb that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," fumed Mister Hedgehog. "I didn't know about any lamb. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," asked Mrs. Kangaroo queerly. "I heard that this lamb likes to mutilate ping-pong paddles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Kangaroo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of lambs mutilating ping-pong paddles?"

"I can't imagine," griped Mister Hedgehog.

"What are we going to do about it?" imitated Mrs. Kangaroo.

"Appoint a committee?" sniveled Mister Hedgehog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Kangaroo had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Kangaroo strangely. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," piped up Mister Hedgehog delicately, 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. Kangaroo lickety-split. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," spat Mister Hedgehog victoriously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the coat rack on his front porch, looking out over the island and hanging around. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Kangaroo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wept Mrs. Kangaroo sadly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hedgehog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied violently.