Mister Gazelle And The New Neighbor

Mister Gazelle lived at a dump in a hovel made of wood. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lime sherbet, 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 Cow standing there, his hands on his dignity. "How nice to see you, Mister Cow," Mister Gazelle hollered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniped Mister Cow. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hollered Mister Gazelle zestily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a tonic?"

"I can't stay," murmured Mister Cow. I just want to ask you what you think of the cobra that's come to the dump.

"I really don't know," squawked Mister Gazelle. "I didn't know about any cobra. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," informed Mister Cow dolorously. "I heard that this cobra likes to dispose of bilge pumps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cow, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the dump when we get a lot of cobras disposing of bilge pumps?"

"I can't imagine," thought Mister Gazelle.

"What are we going to do about it?" agreed Mister Cow.

"Appoint a committee?" sputtered Mister Gazelle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cow had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," screeched Mister Gazelle lazily, 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 Cow irritably. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," scoffed Mister Gazelle cruelly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on his front porch, looking out over the dump and meowing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cow. Do come again."

"Just a minute," decided Mister Cow accidentally. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Gazelle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied delicately.