Mister Groundhog And The New Neighbor

Mister Groundhog lived on a plain in a KOA Kampground made of old bottles. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pronounced Mister Groundhog narrowly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bacardi?"

"I can't stay," whimpered Mister Donkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the chicken that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," began Mister Groundhog. "I didn't know about any chicken. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," harangued Mister Donkey confidently. "I heard that this chicken likes to lose pictures."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Donkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of chickens losing pictures?"

"I can't imagine," drawled Mister Groundhog.

"What are we going to do about it?" grieved Mister Donkey.

"Appoint a committee?" indicated Mister Groundhog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Donkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," barked Mister Groundhog woefully, 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 Donkey coldly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reasoned Mister Groundhog admiringly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bed on his front porch, looking out over the plain and grumbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Donkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mentioned Mister Donkey wryly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Groundhog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied warmly.