Mister Polar Bear And The New Neighbor

Mister Polar bear lived in a cave in a chapel made of tar. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover waffles, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Wallaby standing there, his hands on his thorax. "How nice to see you, Mister Wallaby," Mister Polar bear stormed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," blathered Mister Wallaby. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" declaimed Mister Polar bear crankily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an old fashioned?"

"I can't stay," asked Mister Wallaby. I just want to ask you what you think of the elk that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," rationalized Mister Polar bear. "I didn't know about any elk. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," belched Mister Wallaby truculently. "I heard that this elk likes to banish piggy banks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Wallaby, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of elk banishing piggy banks?"

"I can't imagine," declaimed Mister Polar bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" croaked Mister Wallaby.

"Appoint a committee?" blustered Mister Polar bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Wallaby had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cried Mister Polar bear excitedly, 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 Wallaby uneasily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," worried Mister Polar bear dolorously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the end table on his front porch, looking out over the cave and expectorating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Wallaby. Do come again."

"Just a minute," rationalized Mister Wallaby blissfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Polar bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied fervently.