Mister Mole And The New Neighbor

Mister Mole lived on a veld in a church made of palm leaves. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast beef, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" added Mister Mole gruffly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," noted Mrs. Pekingese. I just want to ask you what you think of the fox that's come to the veld.

"I really don't know," reasoned Mister Mole. "I didn't know about any fox. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," informed Mrs. Pekingese confidently. "I heard that this fox likes to smell protest signs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Pekingese, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the veld when we get a lot of foxes smelling protest signs?"

"I can't imagine," moaned Mister Mole.

"What are we going to do about it?" chimed Mrs. Pekingese.

"Appoint a committee?" indicated Mister Mole, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Pekingese had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Pekingese confidently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," squeaked Mister Mole shakily, 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. Pekingese courteously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," orated Mister Mole timidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bookcase on his front porch, looking out over the veld and exercising. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Pekingese. Do come again."

"Just a minute," whimpered Mrs. Pekingese caustically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Mole sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied silently.