Mister Grasshopper And The New Neighbor

Mister Grasshopper lived in a countryside in a townhouse made of hay. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Reindeer standing there, her hands on her jaw. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Reindeer," Mister Grasshopper lamented, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," clarified Mrs. Reindeer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" queried Mister Grasshopper smoothly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom and Jerry?"

"I can't stay," instructed Mrs. Reindeer. I just want to ask you what you think of the caribou that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," spoke up Mister Grasshopper. "I didn't know about any caribou. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," winked Mrs. Reindeer woefully. "I heard that this caribou likes to wipe cigars."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Reindeer, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of caribous wiping cigars?"

"I can't imagine," articulated Mister Grasshopper.

"What are we going to do about it?" insisted Mrs. Reindeer.

"Appoint a committee?" screamed Mister Grasshopper, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Reindeer had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Reindeer grandly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," rebutted Mister Grasshopper silently, 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 Mrs. Reindeer fondly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," questioned Mister Grasshopper kindly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pool table on his front porch, looking out over the countryside and flushing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Reindeer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," questioned Mrs. Reindeer proudly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Grasshopper sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied brashly.