Mister Garter Snake And The New Neighbor

Mister Garter snake lived in a hayfield in a cave made of wicker. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg drop soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Badger standing there, his hands on his shoulder. "How nice to see you, Mister Badger," Mister Garter snake grunted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," simpered Mister Badger. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" snorted Mister Garter snake suavely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," indicated Mister Badger. I just want to ask you what you think of the mink that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," snarled Mister Garter snake. "I didn't know about any mink. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," informed Mister Badger crankily. "I heard that this mink likes to pluck telephone books."

"Um, I don't know what to say," remarked Mister Garter snake, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Badger, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of minks plucking telephone books?"

"I can't imagine," roared Mister Garter snake.

"What are we going to do about it?" affirmed Mister Badger.

"Appoint a committee?" guessed Mister Garter snake, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Badger had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," nattered Mister Garter snake arrogantly, 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 Badger ignobly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," spoke up Mister Garter snake hastily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the display case on his front porch, looking out over the hayfield and jumping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Badger. Do come again."

"Just a minute," simpered Mister Badger trustingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Garter snake sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied shyly.