Mister Rabbit And The New Neighbor

Mister Rabbit lived in a briar patch in a closet made of stainless steel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover applesauce, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Lion standing there, his hands on his vein. "How nice to see you, Mister Lion," Mister Rabbit protested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spouted Mister Lion. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sniffed Mister Rabbit awkwardly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a 7-Up?"

"I can't stay," answered Mister Lion. I just want to ask you what you think of the tapeworm that's come to the briar patch.

"I really don't know," orated Mister Rabbit. "I didn't know about any tapeworm. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," guessed Mister Lion daintily. "I heard that this tapeworm likes to patch microscopes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Lion, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the briar patch when we get a lot of tapeworms patching microscopes?"

"I can't imagine," conversed Mister Rabbit.

"What are we going to do about it?" divulged Mister Lion.

"Appoint a committee?" smirked Mister Rabbit, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Lion had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," purred Mister Rabbit frenetically, 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 Lion delicately. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yelled Mister Rabbit tensely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on his front porch, looking out over the briar patch and blushing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Lion. Do come again."

"Just a minute," exclaimed Mister Lion intensely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Rabbit sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied blindly.