Mister Anteater And The New Neighbor

Mister Anteater lived at a crime scene in a trough made of slate. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Mole standing there, his hands on his Achilles tendon. "How nice to see you, Mister Mole," Mister Anteater belched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," purred Mister Mole. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" proposed Mister Anteater gingerly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a double latte?"

"I can't stay," belched Mister Mole. I just want to ask you what you think of the wolf that's come to the crime scene.

"I really don't know," boomed Mister Anteater. "I didn't know about any wolf. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," realized Mister Mole defiantly. "I heard that this wolf likes to bite toilet plungers."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mole, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the crime scene when we get a lot of wolves biting toilet plungers?"

"I can't imagine," began Mister Anteater.

"What are we going to do about it?" snarled Mister Mole.

"Appoint a committee?" peeped Mister Anteater, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mole had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," ranted Mister Anteater vacantly, 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 Mole courageously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sighed Mister Anteater despondently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on his front porch, looking out over the crime scene and hiccuping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mole. Do come again."

"Just a minute," disputed Mister Mole awkwardly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Anteater sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied patiently.