Mister Llama And The New Neighbor

Mister Llama lived on a butte in a teepee made of burlap. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover steak, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Crab standing there, his hands on his toupee. "How nice to see you, Mister Crab," Mister Llama bellowed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," winked Mister Crab. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" trumpeted Mister Llama trustingly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a mint julep?"

"I can't stay," argued Mister Crab. I just want to ask you what you think of the pig that's come to the butte.

"I really don't know," declaimed Mister Llama. "I didn't know about any pig. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," conversed Mister Crab woodenly. "I heard that this pig likes to trim spiders."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Crab, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the butte when we get a lot of pigs trimming spiders?"

"I can't imagine," continued Mister Llama.

"What are we going to do about it?" whispered Mister Crab.

"Appoint a committee?" boomed Mister Llama, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Crab had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," drawled Mister Llama cheerfully, 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 Crab wearily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," gasped Mister Llama hastily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the hammock on his front porch, looking out over the butte and awakening. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Crab. Do come again."

"Just a minute," muttered Mister Crab gruffly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Llama sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sweetly.