Mister Toad And The New Neighbor

Mister Toad lived on a savanna in a chateau made of papyrus. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pot roast, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Prairie dog standing there, her hands on her shoulder. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Prairie dog," Mister Toad exploded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," stuttered Mrs. Prairie dog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" gabbed Mister Toad unnaturally, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Bloody Mary?"

"I can't stay," phrased Mrs. Prairie dog. I just want to ask you what you think of the donkey that's come to the savanna.

"I really don't know," hummed Mister Toad. "I didn't know about any donkey. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," mumbled Mrs. Prairie dog grandly. "I heard that this donkey likes to unbutton iPads."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Prairie dog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the savanna when we get a lot of donkeys unbuttoning iPads?"

"I can't imagine," interpreted Mister Toad.

"What are we going to do about it?" quavered Mrs. Prairie dog.

"Appoint a committee?" whined Mister Toad, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Prairie dog had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Prairie dog cunningly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," bellowed Mister Toad warily, 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. Prairie dog victoriously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," vouched Mister Toad hysterically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rug on his front porch, looking out over the savanna and burbling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Prairie dog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," smiled Mrs. Prairie dog uneasily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Toad sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied bitterly.