Mister Ferret And The New Neighbor

Mister Ferret lived in a marsh in a ranch house made of yarn. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cotton candy, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Warthog standing there, his hands on his calf. "How nice to see you, Mister Warthog," Mister Ferret snarled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," declaimed Mister Warthog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" rebutted Mister Ferret happily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a sarsaparilla?"

"I can't stay," howled Mister Warthog. I just want to ask you what you think of the iguana that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," begged Mister Ferret. "I didn't know about any iguana. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," uttered Mister Warthog later. "I heard that this iguana likes to fry peace pipes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Warthog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of iguanas frying peace pipes?"

"I can't imagine," declared Mister Ferret.

"What are we going to do about it?" uttered Mister Warthog.

"Appoint a committee?" sniped Mister Ferret, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Warthog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," sniped Mister Ferret properly, 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 Warthog temperamentally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," wondered Mister Ferret swiftly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on his front porch, looking out over the marsh and wandering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Warthog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," persisted Mister Warthog sagely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Ferret sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied speedily.