Mister Horse And The New Neighbor

Mister Horse lived on a path in a duplex made of roots. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover prime rib, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Ladybug standing there, his hands on his nose. "How nice to see you, Mister Ladybug," Mister Horse maintained, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," muttered Mister Ladybug. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pointed out Mister Horse coolly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an iced tea?"

"I can't stay," affirmed Mister Ladybug. I just want to ask you what you think of the whale that's come to the path.

"I really don't know," smirked Mister Horse. "I didn't know about any whale. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," snorted Mister Ladybug immediately. "I heard that this whale likes to shrink bananas."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ladybug, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the path when we get a lot of whales shrinking bananas?"

"I can't imagine," interrupted Mister Horse.

"What are we going to do about it?" provoked Mister Ladybug.

"Appoint a committee?" griped Mister Horse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ladybug had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hinted Mister Horse daringly, 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 Ladybug steadily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," intoned Mister Horse noisily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the TV on his front porch, looking out over the path and growing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ladybug. Do come again."

"Just a minute," implored Mister Ladybug slyly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Horse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied awkwardly.