Miss Mongoose And The New Neighbor

Miss Mongoose lived on a plateau in a townhouse made of tempered steel. One morning, she had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pretzels, when she heard a knock at the door.

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

She was surprised to see Mister Bunny standing there, his hands on his chin. "How nice to see you, Mister Bunny," Miss Mongoose wondered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," grieved Mister Bunny. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" stammered Miss Mongoose urgently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," clarified Mister Bunny. I just want to ask you what you think of the caribou that's come to the plateau.

"I really don't know," fantasized Miss Mongoose. "I didn't know about any caribou. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," boasted Mister Bunny angrily. "I heard that this caribou likes to toss etchings."

"Um, I don't know what to say," mused Miss Mongoose, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Bunny, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plateau when we get a lot of caribous tossing etchings?"

"I can't imagine," orated Miss Mongoose.

"What are we going to do about it?" spoke up Mister Bunny.

"Appoint a committee?" yelled Miss Mongoose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Bunny had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," harangued Miss Mongoose brashly, who wanted to bring the conversation to a close quickly, without finding herself on this committee.

"I'd like for you to be on the committee," said Mister Bunny sadly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," blustered Miss Mongoose stupidly, thinking of all the time she'd prefer to be sitting on the cushion on her front porch, looking out over the plateau and resting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Bunny. Do come again."

"Just a minute," disputed Mister Bunny firmly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Miss Mongoose thought she had answered, and was beginning to get blubbery. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mrs. Bunny doing these days?"

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

Miss Mongoose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," she replied gleefully.