Mister Lizard And The New Neighbor

Mister Lizard lived at a lakeside in a trailer made of aluminum foil. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover refried beans, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Mosquito standing there, her hands on her hand. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mosquito," Mister Lizard agreed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," guessed Mrs. Mosquito. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" fumed Mister Lizard properly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of iced tea?"

"I can't stay," fumed Mrs. Mosquito. I just want to ask you what you think of the monster that's come to the lakeside.

"I really don't know," urged Mister Lizard. "I didn't know about any monster. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," recited Mrs. Mosquito resignedly. "I heard that this monster likes to swipe doilies."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Mosquito, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lakeside when we get a lot of monsters swiping doilies?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" rationalized Mrs. Mosquito.

"Appoint a committee?" proposed Mister Lizard, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Mosquito had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," phrased Mister Lizard furiously, 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. Mosquito daringly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fumed Mister Lizard uselessly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the coffee table on his front porch, looking out over the lakeside and dilly-dallying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mosquito. Do come again."

"Just a minute," brought up Mrs. Mosquito carefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Lizard 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 Mister Mosquito doing these days?"

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

Mister Lizard sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied lickety-split.