Mister Airedale And The New Neighbor

Mister Airedale lived on a hill in a mud hut made of ceramic. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover wienerschnitzel, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Weasel standing there, his hands on his horn. "How nice to see you, Mister Weasel," Mister Airedale called, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chanted Mister Weasel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" drawled Mister Airedale perkily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin sour?"

"I can't stay," complained Mister Weasel. I just want to ask you what you think of the beagle that's come to the hill.

"I really don't know," began Mister Airedale. "I didn't know about any beagle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," protested Mister Weasel warmly. "I heard that this beagle likes to polish crystal balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Weasel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hill when we get a lot of beagles polishing crystal balls?"

"I can't imagine," realized Mister Airedale.

"What are we going to do about it?" exclaimed Mister Weasel.

"Appoint a committee?" professed Mister Airedale, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Weasel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spat Mister Airedale hungrily, 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 Weasel daringly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," decided Mister Airedale charmingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on his front porch, looking out over the hill and applauding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Weasel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," opined Mister Weasel deliberately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Airedale sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied thankfully.