Mister Mole And The New Neighbor

Mister Mole lived in a meadow in a sand castle made of polyester. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover refried beans, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Sheep standing there, her hands on her mouth. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Sheep," Mister Mole chuckled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stormed Mrs. Sheep. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" professed Mister Mole reluctantly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Irish Coffee?"

"I can't stay," jeered Mrs. Sheep. I just want to ask you what you think of the penguin that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," raved Mister Mole. "I didn't know about any penguin. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," panted Mrs. Sheep repeatedly. "I heard that this penguin likes to stitch saws."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Sheep, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the meadow when we get a lot of penguins stitching saws?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" breathed Mrs. Sheep.

"Appoint a committee?" rebutted Mister Mole, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Sheep had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," interrupted Mister Mole ignobly, 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. Sheep nervously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," judged Mister Mole jokingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on his front porch, looking out over the meadow and chattering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Sheep. Do come again."

"Just a minute," lamented Mrs. Sheep sleepily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Mole sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied clumsily.