Mister Pony And The New Neighbor

Mister Pony lived on a steppe in a chalet made of alpaca hair. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, 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 Mister Pelican standing there, his hands on his toenail. "How nice to see you, Mister Pelican," Mister Pony spewed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," griped Mister Pelican. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" muttered Mister Pony firmly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gin and tonic?"

"I can't stay," yowled Mister Pelican. I just want to ask you what you think of the jackal that's come to the steppe.

"I really don't know," purred Mister Pony. "I didn't know about any jackal. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," screamed Mister Pelican stupidly. "I heard that this jackal likes to melt maps."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Pelican, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the steppe when we get a lot of jackals melting maps?"

"I can't imagine," hummed Mister Pony.

"What are we going to do about it?" asserted Mister Pelican.

"Appoint a committee?" bawled Mister Pony, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Pelican had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," grunted Mister Pony bravely, 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 Pelican sweetly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rumored Mister Pony ingeniously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pedestal on his front porch, looking out over the steppe and lounging. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pelican. Do come again."

"Just a minute," indicated Mister Pelican lazily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Pony sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sweetly.