Mister Caribou And The New Neighbor

Mister Caribou lived on a prairie in a barracks made of plaster. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tacos, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Polar bear standing there, his hands on his little toe. "How nice to see you, Mister Polar bear," Mister Caribou belched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," noted Mister Polar bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" brought up Mister Caribou intensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a painkiller?"

"I can't stay," noted Mister Polar bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the salamander that's come to the prairie.

"I really don't know," rationalized Mister Caribou. "I didn't know about any salamander. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," jeered Mister Polar bear languidly. "I heard that this salamander likes to face pails."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Polar bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the prairie when we get a lot of salamanders facing pails?"

"I can't imagine," moaned Mister Caribou.

"What are we going to do about it?" guessed Mister Polar bear.

"Appoint a committee?" hummed Mister Caribou, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Polar bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Polar bear uselessly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," harangued Mister Caribou noisily, 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 Polar bear despondently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," began Mister Caribou sarcastically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the umbrella stand on his front porch, looking out over the prairie and leering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Polar bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wondered Mister Polar bear fearlessly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Caribou sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied resignedly.