Mister Tapeworm And The New Neighbor

Mister Tapeworm lived in a circus tent in a sod house made of sod. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fondue, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Seal standing there, his hands on his ego. "How nice to see you, Mister Seal," Mister Tapeworm intimated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," said Mister Seal. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" added Mister Tapeworm dreamily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of lemonade?"

"I can't stay," murmured Mister Seal. I just want to ask you what you think of the tarantula that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," burbled Mister Tapeworm. "I didn't know about any tarantula. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," piped up Mister Seal sympathetically. "I heard that this tarantula likes to smudge corsages."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Seal, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of tarantulas smudging corsages?"

"I can't imagine," conversed Mister Tapeworm.

"What are we going to do about it?" growled Mister Seal.

"Appoint a committee?" provoked Mister Tapeworm, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Seal had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," snarled Mister Tapeworm busily, 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 Seal humbly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squeaked Mister Tapeworm gleefully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the workbench on his front porch, looking out over the circus tent and dilly-dallying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Seal. Do come again."

"Just a minute," proposed Mister Seal automatically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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