Mister Prairie Dog And The New Neighbor

Mister Prairie dog lived on a mountain in a teepee made of Scotch tape. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Lobster standing there, her hands on her beard. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Lobster," Mister Prairie dog argued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shrieked Mrs. Lobster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sniffed Mister Prairie dog wildly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of eggnog?"

"I can't stay," uttered Mrs. Lobster. I just want to ask you what you think of the Pekingese that's come to the mountain.

"I really don't know," screeched Mister Prairie dog. "I didn't know about any Pekingese. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," uttered Mrs. Lobster perkily. "I heard that this Pekingese likes to forget Rubik's cubes."

"Um, I don't know what to say," nattered Mister Prairie dog, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Lobster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountain when we get a lot of Pekingeses forgetting Rubik's cubes?"

"I can't imagine," contended Mister Prairie dog.

"What are we going to do about it?" groaned Mrs. Lobster.

"Appoint a committee?" babbled Mister Prairie dog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Lobster had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sneered Mister Prairie dog jokingly, 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. Lobster patiently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," exploded Mister Prairie dog gratefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cash register on his front porch, looking out over the mountain and cogitating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Lobster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," moaned Mrs. Lobster clumsily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Prairie dog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sternly.