Mister Rabbit And The New Neighbor

Mister Rabbit lived in a circus tent in a studio made of gold. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cornbread, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Donkey standing there, his hands on his intestine. "How nice to see you, Mister Donkey," Mister Rabbit disputed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," began Mister Donkey. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," winked Mister Donkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the android that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," sniped Mister Rabbit. "I didn't know about any android. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," thought Mister Donkey bitterly. "I heard that this android likes to shave hip flasks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Donkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of androids shaving hip flasks?"

"I can't imagine," invited Mister Rabbit.

"What are we going to do about it?" yelled Mister Donkey.

"Appoint a committee?" accused Mister Rabbit, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Donkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," vouched Mister Rabbit languidly, 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 Donkey menacingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," professed Mister Rabbit accidentally, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on his front porch, looking out over the circus tent and screeching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Donkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," responded Mister Donkey repeatedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Rabbit sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sadly.