Mister Anteater And The New Neighbor

Mister Anteater lived in a pond in a retreat made of cellophane. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast beef, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Teddy bear standing there, her hands on her cheek. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Teddy bear," Mister Anteater enunciated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," articulated Mrs. Teddy bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sniveled Mister Anteater viciously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of milk?"

"I can't stay," mumbled Mrs. Teddy bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the bull that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," wailed Mister Anteater. "I didn't know about any bull. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," simpered Mrs. Teddy bear impatiently. "I heard that this bull likes to jab pop bottles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Teddy bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of bulls jabbing pop bottles?"

"I can't imagine," scoffed Mister Anteater.

"What are we going to do about it?" chanted Mrs. Teddy bear.

"Appoint a committee?" pointed out Mister Anteater, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Teddy bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Teddy bear openly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," peeped Mister Anteater sarcastically, 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 Mrs. Teddy bear delicately. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," divulged Mister Anteater anxiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on his front porch, looking out over the pond and sweating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Teddy bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," panted Mrs. Teddy bear admiringly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Anteater sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied quickly.