Mister Camel And The New Neighbor

Mister Camel lived in a countryside in a mobile home made of tiles. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fondue, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Gnu standing there, her hands on her forehead. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Gnu," Mister Camel vouched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," instructed Mrs. Gnu. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yowled Mister Camel slyly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Long Island iced tea?"

"I can't stay," agreed Mrs. Gnu. I just want to ask you what you think of the buzzard that's come to the countryside.

"I really don't know," breathed Mister Camel. "I didn't know about any buzzard. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," chuckled Mrs. Gnu woefully. "I heard that this buzzard likes to weigh pop bottles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Gnu, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the countryside when we get a lot of buzzards weighing pop bottles?"

"I can't imagine," whispered Mister Camel.

"What are we going to do about it?" spoke up Mrs. Gnu.

"Appoint a committee?" invited Mister Camel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Gnu had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Gnu confidently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," chattered Mister Camel trustingly, 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 Mrs. Gnu lazily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," argued Mister Camel deliberately, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bookcase on his front porch, looking out over the countryside and getting away. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Gnu. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hissed Mrs. Gnu elatedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Camel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied roughly.