Mister Dromedary And The New Neighbor

Mister Dromedary lived in a village in a sand castle made of brick. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lime sherbet, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Gerbil standing there, his hands on his beard. "How nice to see you, Mister Gerbil," Mister Dromedary amended, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," screeched Mister Gerbil. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" revealed Mister Dromedary perkily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of espresso?"

"I can't stay," groaned Mister Gerbil. I just want to ask you what you think of the monster that's come to the village.

"I really don't know," howled Mister Dromedary. "I didn't know about any monster. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," emphasized Mister Gerbil trustingly. "I heard that this monster likes to grab hip flasks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Gerbil, 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 monsters grabbing hip flasks?"

"I can't imagine," smiled Mister Dromedary.

"What are we going to do about it?" provoked Mister Gerbil.

"Appoint a committee?" appealed Mister Dromedary, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gerbil had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," retorted Mister Dromedary blindly, 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 Gerbil pitifully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squealed Mister Dromedary openly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the wine rack on his front porch, looking out over the village and snuffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gerbil. Do come again."

"Just a minute," giggled Mister Gerbil recklessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Dromedary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied offhandedly.