Mister Goose And The New Neighbor

Mister Goose lived on a prairie in a castle made of twigs. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pancakes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Reindeer standing there, his hands on his shin. "How nice to see you, Mister Reindeer," Mister Goose disputed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," mentioned Mister Reindeer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" disputed Mister Goose quietly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a grape soda?"

"I can't stay," protested Mister Reindeer. I just want to ask you what you think of the unicorn that's come to the prairie.

"I really don't know," urged Mister Goose. "I didn't know about any unicorn. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," whimpered Mister Reindeer stealthily. "I heard that this unicorn likes to archive coupons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Reindeer, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the prairie when we get a lot of unicorns archiving coupons?"

"I can't imagine," whimpered Mister Goose.

"What are we going to do about it?" noted Mister Reindeer.

"Appoint a committee?" questioned Mister Goose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Reindeer had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," raved Mister Goose frantically, 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 Reindeer lamely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," stormed Mister Goose delicately, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on his front porch, looking out over the prairie and coming back. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Reindeer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," phrased Mister Reindeer irritably. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied energetically.