Mister Moose And The New Neighbor

Mister Moose lived on a moonscape in a parsonage made of linoleum. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lamb curry, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Flea standing there, her hands on her finger. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Flea," Mister Moose disputed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," hollered Mrs. Flea. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sniped Mister Moose grimly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of espresso?"

"I can't stay," observed Mrs. Flea. I just want to ask you what you think of the mule that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," belched Mister Moose. "I didn't know about any mule. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sneered Mrs. Flea warily. "I heard that this mule likes to burn charts."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Flea, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of mules burning charts?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" persisted Mrs. Flea.

"Appoint a committee?" questioned Mister Moose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Flea had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," barked Mister Moose gingerly, 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. Flea unabashedly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," exploded Mister Moose accidentally, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the carpet on his front porch, looking out over the moonscape and doing the Hokey Pokey. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Flea. Do come again."

"Just a minute," spouted Mrs. Flea flightily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Moose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied firmly.