Mister Bunny And The New Neighbor

Mister Bunny lived in an arroyo in a homeless shelter made of old rags. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cotton candy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Fish standing there, his hands on his eyelid. "How nice to see you, Mister Fish," Mister Bunny murmured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chortled Mister Fish. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" responded Mister Bunny obediently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Mountain Dew?"

"I can't stay," recited Mister Fish. I just want to ask you what you think of the hog that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," instructed Mister Bunny. "I didn't know about any hog. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," whispered Mister Fish flightily. "I heard that this hog likes to taste cans of beans."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Fish, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of hogs tasting cans of beans?"

"I can't imagine," sobbed Mister Bunny.

"What are we going to do about it?" proposed Mister Fish.

"Appoint a committee?" repeated Mister Bunny, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Fish had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bawled Mister Bunny sagely, 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 Fish suavely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," imitated Mister Bunny ignobly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on his front porch, looking out over the arroyo and hanging around. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Fish. Do come again."

"Just a minute," squealed Mister Fish warmly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bunny sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied unexpectedly.