Mister Poodle And The New Neighbor

Mister Poodle lived in an arroyo in a condominium made of Formica. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pumpkin pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Otter standing there, his hands on his spine. "How nice to see you, Mister Otter," Mister Poodle chuckled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," argued Mister Otter. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" fantasized Mister Poodle energetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of champagne?"

"I can't stay," thought Mister Otter. I just want to ask you what you think of the hedgehog that's come to the arroyo.

"I really don't know," hollered Mister Poodle. "I didn't know about any hedgehog. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," shrieked Mister Otter diligently. "I heard that this hedgehog likes to soak Frisbees."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Otter, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the arroyo when we get a lot of hedgehogs soaking Frisbees?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Mister Poodle.

"What are we going to do about it?" wailed Mister Otter.

"Appoint a committee?" blathered Mister Poodle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Otter had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," boomed Mister Poodle blindly, 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 Otter accidentally. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chanted Mister Poodle thankfully, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on his front porch, looking out over the arroyo and rolling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Otter. Do come again."

"Just a minute," screeched Mister Otter miserably. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Poodle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied nicely.