Miss Norway Rat And The New Neighbor

Miss Norway rat lived in a cesspool in a mobile home made of posts and beams. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dry toast, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Camel standing there, his hands on his kidney. "How nice to see you, Mister Camel," Miss Norway rat noted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," cackled Mister Camel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" imitated Miss Norway rat frenetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bud Lite?"

"I can't stay," brought up Mister Camel. I just want to ask you what you think of the beaver that's come to the cesspool.

"I really don't know," blathered Miss Norway rat. "I didn't know about any beaver. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," smirked Mister Camel oddly. "I heard that this beaver likes to sharpen pepper grinders."

"Um, I don't know what to say," answered Miss Norway rat, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Camel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cesspool when we get a lot of beavers sharpening pepper grinders?"

"I can't imagine," gabbed Miss Norway rat.

"What are we going to do about it?" smirked Mister Camel.

"Appoint a committee?" shouted Miss Norway rat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Camel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," mumbled Miss Norway rat effortlessly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Camel blindly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," belched Miss Norway rat fearlessly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the file cabinet on her front porch, looking out over the cesspool and sighing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Camel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," affirmed Mister Camel clumsily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Norway rat thought she had answered, and was beginning to get princely. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Camel doing these days?"

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

Miss Norway rat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied valiantly.