Mister Muskrat And The New Neighbor

Mister Muskrat lived in a hayfield in a Spanish colonial made of muslin. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover popcorn, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Polar bear standing there, her hands on her foot. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Polar bear," Mister Muskrat asked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," squealed Mrs. Polar bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" babbled Mister Muskrat cunningly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sassafras tea?"

"I can't stay," stated Mrs. Polar bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the goldfish that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," queried Mister Muskrat. "I didn't know about any goldfish. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rambled Mrs. Polar bear rapidly. "I heard that this goldfish likes to pierce coupons."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Polar bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of goldfish piercing coupons?"

"I can't imagine," sniffed Mister Muskrat.

"What are we going to do about it?" argued Mrs. Polar bear.

"Appoint a committee?" accused Mister Muskrat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Polar bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Polar bear frantically. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," pronounced Mister Muskrat slowly, 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. Polar bear softly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," moaned Mister Muskrat lightly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on his front porch, looking out over the hayfield and sleeping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Polar bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," yammered Mrs. Polar bear diligently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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