Mister Buffalo And The New Neighbor

Mister Buffalo lived on a peninsula in a wikiup made of bones. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Ox standing there, his hands on his hand. "How nice to see you, Mister Ox," Mister Buffalo complained, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," interrupted Mister Ox. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" responded Mister Buffalo ingeniously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," drawled Mister Ox. I just want to ask you what you think of the sheep that's come to the peninsula.

"I really don't know," railed Mister Buffalo. "I didn't know about any sheep. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," voiced Mister Ox briskly. "I heard that this sheep likes to stab pencil sharpeners."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ox, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the peninsula when we get a lot of sheep stabbing pencil sharpeners?"

"I can't imagine," realized Mister Buffalo.

"What are we going to do about it?" prattled Mister Ox.

"Appoint a committee?" rambled Mister Buffalo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ox had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," quavered Mister Buffalo deliberately, 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 Ox trustingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," alleged Mister Buffalo strangely, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rocking chair on his front porch, looking out over the peninsula and frowning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ox. Do come again."

"Just a minute," realized Mister Ox deliberately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Buffalo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied lazily.