Mister Squirrel And The New Neighbor

Mister Squirrel lived on a mountainside in a mud hut made of granite. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken gumbo, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Camel standing there, her hands on her hoof. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Camel," Mister Squirrel remarked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spouted Mrs. Camel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" swore Mister Squirrel carelessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a milkshake?"

"I can't stay," worried Mrs. Camel. I just want to ask you what you think of the ape that's come to the mountainside.

"I really don't know," scoffed Mister Squirrel. "I didn't know about any ape. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," exclaimed Mrs. Camel needlessly. "I heard that this ape likes to close cans of beer."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Camel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountainside when we get a lot of apes closing cans of beer?"

"I can't imagine," informed Mister Squirrel.

"What are we going to do about it?" wondered Mrs. Camel.

"Appoint a committee?" croaked Mister Squirrel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Camel had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Camel reluctantly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," worried Mister Squirrel frenetically, 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 Mrs. Camel gratefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," giggled Mister Squirrel violently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on his front porch, looking out over the mountainside and sighing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Camel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reminded Mrs. Camel wearily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Squirrel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied briskly.