Mister Donkey And The New Neighbor

Mister Donkey lived in an outback in a stinky shack made of tempered steel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover chopped liver, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Ant standing there, his hands on his heel. "How nice to see you, Mister Ant," Mister Donkey requested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," commented Mister Ant. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cackled Mister Donkey carefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," purred Mister Ant. I just want to ask you what you think of the squirrel that's come to the outback.

"I really don't know," railed Mister Donkey. "I didn't know about any squirrel. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," judged Mister Ant miserably. "I heard that this squirrel likes to grasp fire hoses."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ant, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the outback when we get a lot of squirrels grasping fire hoses?"

"I can't imagine," interrupted Mister Donkey.

"What are we going to do about it?" sighed Mister Ant.

"Appoint a committee?" asked Mister Donkey, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ant had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Ant lickety-split. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," lectured Mister Donkey nicely, 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 Ant jokingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," shrieked Mister Donkey hungrily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the card table on his front porch, looking out over the outback and talking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ant. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chortled Mister Ant deftly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Donkey sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied hungrily.