Mister Flea And The New Neighbor

Mister Flea lived on a trail in a wikiup made of old newspapers. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cinnamon toast, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Poodle standing there, his hands on his throat. "How nice to see you, Mister Poodle," Mister Flea wondered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," intimated Mister Poodle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" harangued Mister Flea courageously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a V8?"

"I can't stay," rebutted Mister Poodle. I just want to ask you what you think of the goose that's come to the trail.

"I really don't know," sniped Mister Flea. "I didn't know about any goose. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," interrupted Mister Poodle daringly. "I heard that this goose likes to polish clams."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Poodle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the trail when we get a lot of geese polishing clams?"

"I can't imagine," answered Mister Flea.

"What are we going to do about it?" winked Mister Poodle.

"Appoint a committee?" sighed Mister Flea, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Poodle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," squawked Mister Flea swiftly, 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 Poodle victoriously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," avowed Mister Flea suddenly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the piano on his front porch, looking out over the trail and hiccuping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Poodle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," panted Mister Poodle elatedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Flea sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied needlessly.