Mister German Shepherd And The New Neighbor

Mister German Shepherd lived at a lakeside in a monastery made of tempered steel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pretzels, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Peacock standing there, his hands on his artery. "How nice to see you, Mister Peacock," Mister German Shepherd vowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," appealed Mister Peacock. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" orated Mister German Shepherd nimbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bacardi?"

"I can't stay," repeated Mister Peacock. I just want to ask you what you think of the mountain goat that's come to the lakeside.

"I really don't know," urged Mister German Shepherd. "I didn't know about any mountain goat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," squawked Mister Peacock craftily. "I heard that this mountain goat likes to empty peace pipes."

"Um, I don't know what to say," phrased Mister German Shepherd, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Peacock, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lakeside when we get a lot of mountain goats emptying peace pipes?"

"I can't imagine," sniffed Mister German Shepherd.

"What are we going to do about it?" griped Mister Peacock.

"Appoint a committee?" began Mister German Shepherd, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Peacock had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sputtered Mister German Shepherd miserably, 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 Peacock suavely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," trumpeted Mister German Shepherd warily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on his front porch, looking out over the lakeside and trembling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Peacock. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hollered Mister Peacock frantically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister German Shepherd sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied deftly.