Mister Newt And The New Neighbor

Mister Newt lived in a meadow in a trailer made of deer hide. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage rolls, 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 Colt standing there, his hands on his pituitary gland. "How nice to see you, Mister Colt," Mister Newt yammered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," persisted Mister Colt. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" begged Mister Newt sheepishly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Alka-Seltzer?"

"I can't stay," spouted Mister Colt. I just want to ask you what you think of the horse that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," sniffed Mister Newt. "I didn't know about any horse. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," protested Mister Colt cunningly. "I heard that this horse likes to catch coat hangers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Colt, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the meadow when we get a lot of horses catching coat hangers?"

"I can't imagine," reasoned Mister Newt.

"What are we going to do about it?" hissed Mister Colt.

"Appoint a committee?" interrupted Mister Newt, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Colt had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," invited Mister Newt sorrowfully, 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 Colt wearily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yelped Mister Newt fervently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the counter on his front porch, looking out over the meadow and sitting still. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Colt. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wept Mister Colt calmly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Newt sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied uneasily.