Mister Hamster And The New Neighbor

Mister Hamster lived on a plateau in a KOA Kampground made of Saran Wrap. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover blueberry pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Pony standing there, his hands on his mouth. "How nice to see you, Mister Pony," Mister Hamster lectured, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," mouthed Mister Pony. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," worried Mister Pony. I just want to ask you what you think of the donkey that's come to the plateau.

"I really don't know," argued Mister Hamster. "I didn't know about any donkey. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," burbled Mister Pony deftly. "I heard that this donkey likes to probe wastebaskets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Pony, 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 donkeys probing wastebaskets?"

"I can't imagine," smiled Mister Hamster.

"What are we going to do about it?" blustered Mister Pony.

"Appoint a committee?" exclaimed Mister Hamster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Pony had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," opined Mister Hamster daintily, 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 Pony cunningly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rebutted Mister Hamster lickety-split, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the canopy bed on his front porch, looking out over the plateau and clapping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Pony. Do come again."

"Just a minute," conversed Mister Pony majestically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hamster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied numbly.