Mister Muskrat And The New Neighbor

Mister Muskrat lived in a lagoon in a log cabin made of yarn. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Cheerios, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Toad standing there, his hands on his carotid artery. "How nice to see you, Mister Toad," Mister Muskrat orated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," swore Mister Toad. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" repeated Mister Muskrat woodenly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," whimpered Mister Toad. I just want to ask you what you think of the fish that's come to the lagoon.

"I really don't know," simpered Mister Muskrat. "I didn't know about any fish. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," taunted Mister Toad blissfully. "I heard that this fish likes to lick bags of popcorn."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Toad, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lagoon when we get a lot of fish licking bags of popcorn?"

"I can't imagine," offered Mister Muskrat.

"What are we going to do about it?" rationalized Mister Toad.

"Appoint a committee?" blurted Mister Muskrat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Toad had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," interrupted Mister Muskrat coolly, 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 Toad tearfully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reminded Mister Muskrat blindly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on his front porch, looking out over the lagoon and going limp. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Toad. Do come again."

"Just a minute," debated Mister Toad steadily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Muskrat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied craftily.