Mister Yeti And The New Neighbor

Mister Yeti lived in a treetop in a geodesic dome made of straw bales. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ice cream, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Muskrat standing there, his hands on his thigh. "How nice to see you, Mister Muskrat," Mister Yeti said, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," retorted Mister Muskrat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" responded Mister Yeti sharply, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Moscow mule?"

"I can't stay," demanded Mister Muskrat. I just want to ask you what you think of the butterfly that's come to the treetop.

"I really don't know," provoked Mister Yeti. "I didn't know about any butterfly. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," comforted Mister Muskrat shakily. "I heard that this butterfly likes to engrave cans of shaving cream."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Muskrat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the treetop when we get a lot of butterflies engraving cans of shaving cream?"

"I can't imagine," asked Mister Yeti.

"What are we going to do about it?" divulged Mister Muskrat.

"Appoint a committee?" snarled Mister Yeti, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Muskrat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," urged Mister Yeti breathlessly, 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 Muskrat fervently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," shuddered Mister Yeti speedily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the nightstand on his front porch, looking out over the treetop and jumping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Muskrat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," begged Mister Muskrat courageously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Yeti sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied glumly.