Mister Poodle And The New Neighbor

Mister Poodle lived in a cave in a log cabin made of old rags. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Snake standing there, his hands on his finger. "How nice to see you, Mister Snake," Mister Poodle judged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," insisted Mister Snake. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cajoled Mister Poodle awkwardly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of cocoa?"

"I can't stay," screeched Mister Snake. I just want to ask you what you think of the swan that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," chimed Mister Poodle. "I didn't know about any swan. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," lamented Mister Snake brightly. "I heard that this swan likes to spray packs of gum."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Snake, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of swans spraying packs of gum?"

"I can't imagine," crooned Mister Poodle.

"What are we going to do about it?" announced Mister Snake.

"Appoint a committee?" grieved Mister Poodle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Snake had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," wept Mister Poodle sweetly, 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 Snake suddenly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whimpered Mister Poodle intensely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on his front porch, looking out over the cave and coming over. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Snake. Do come again."

"Just a minute," simpered Mister Snake roughly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Poodle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied smoothly.