Mister Worm And The New Neighbor

Mister Worm lived in a canyon in a manor house made of cornhusks. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken pot pie, 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 Mister Donkey standing there, his hands on his face. "How nice to see you, Mister Donkey," Mister Worm worried, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," noted Mister Donkey. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chattered Mister Worm haughtily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a latte?"

"I can't stay," howled Mister Donkey. I just want to ask you what you think of the reindeer that's come to the canyon.

"I really don't know," urged Mister Worm. "I didn't know about any reindeer. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," squealed Mister Donkey cruelly. "I heard that this reindeer likes to engrave blank checks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Donkey, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the canyon when we get a lot of reindeer engraving blank checks?"

"I can't imagine," screeched Mister Worm.

"What are we going to do about it?" brought up Mister Donkey.

"Appoint a committee?" intimated Mister Worm, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Donkey had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," recited Mister Worm boisterously, 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 Donkey sagely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," added Mister Worm cautiously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on his front porch, looking out over the canyon and fidgeting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Donkey. Do come again."

"Just a minute," responded Mister Donkey briskly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Worm sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied positively.