Mister Fawn And The New Neighbor

Mister Fawn lived in a park in a hut made of pulp. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chicken pot pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

He leapt 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 nose. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Mosquito," Mister Fawn wondered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," growled Mrs. Mosquito. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" wailed Mister Fawn glibly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Moscow mule?"

"I can't stay," instructed Mrs. Mosquito. I just want to ask you what you think of the lion that's come to the park.

"I really don't know," divulged Mister Fawn. "I didn't know about any lion. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," realized Mrs. Mosquito fearfully. "I heard that this lion likes to pluck paperweights."

"Um, I don't know what to say," cajoled Mister Fawn, 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 park when we get a lot of lions plucking paperweights?"

"I can't imagine," griped Mister Fawn.

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," panted Mister Fawn deftly, 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 reluctantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sputtered Mister Fawn languidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on his front porch, looking out over the park and jumping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Mosquito. Do come again."

"Just a minute," agreed Mrs. Mosquito proudly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Fawn thought he had answered, and was beginning to get mournful. "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 Fawn sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied swiftly.