Mister Camel And The New Neighbor

Mister Camel lived on a mountainside in a farmhouse made of pipe. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover macaroni and cheese, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Siamese cat standing there, his hands on his dignity. "How nice to see you, Mister Siamese cat," Mister Camel called, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," trumpeted Mister Siamese cat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reasoned Mister Camel crankily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of bouillon?"

"I can't stay," squeaked Mister Siamese cat. I just want to ask you what you think of the gopher that's come to the mountainside.

"I really don't know," retorted Mister Camel. "I didn't know about any gopher. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," screamed Mister Siamese cat lickety-split. "I heard that this gopher likes to darken pairs of pliers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Siamese cat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountainside when we get a lot of gophers darkening pairs of pliers?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" spouted Mister Siamese cat.

"Appoint a committee?" requested Mister Camel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Siamese cat had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Siamese cat briskly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," sputtered Mister Camel violently, 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 Siamese cat breathlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," warbled Mister Camel glibly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the catbird seat on his front porch, looking out over the mountainside and jerking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Siamese cat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," asserted Mister Siamese cat courageously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

Mister Siamese cat 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 arrogantly.