Mister Shrew And The New Neighbor

Mister Shrew lived on a steppe in a dugout made of roots. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken chow mein, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Fawn standing there, his hands on his gall bladder. "How nice to see you, Mister Fawn," Mister Shrew stated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," murmured Mister Fawn. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cajoled Mister Shrew thankfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cosmopolitan?"

"I can't stay," divulged Mister Fawn. I just want to ask you what you think of the falcon that's come to the steppe.

"I really don't know," remarked Mister Shrew. "I didn't know about any falcon. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reminded Mister Fawn haughtily. "I heard that this falcon likes to stain handkerchiefs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Fawn, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the steppe when we get a lot of falcons staining handkerchiefs?"

"I can't imagine," whined Mister Shrew.

"What are we going to do about it?" retorted Mister Fawn.

"Appoint a committee?" drawled Mister Shrew, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Fawn had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pointed out Mister Shrew vigorously, 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 Fawn sympathetically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," comforted Mister Shrew impatiently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the hope chest on his front porch, looking out over the steppe and wincing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Fawn. Do come again."

"Just a minute," screamed Mister Fawn dolorously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Shrew sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied softly.