Mister Hornet And The New Neighbor

Mister Hornet lived in a forest in a Cape Cod made of tin. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pancakes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Jackal standing there, his hands on his nostril. "How nice to see you, Mister Jackal," Mister Hornet complained, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shouted Mister Jackal. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" shuddered Mister Hornet angrily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of coffee?"

"I can't stay," yelped Mister Jackal. I just want to ask you what you think of the monster that's come to the forest.

"I really don't know," spat Mister Hornet. "I didn't know about any monster. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," grunted Mister Jackal sheepishly. "I heard that this monster likes to pierce brushes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Jackal, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the forest when we get a lot of monsters piercing brushes?"

"I can't imagine," urged Mister Hornet.

"What are we going to do about it?" quoted Mister Jackal.

"Appoint a committee?" smiled Mister Hornet, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Jackal had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," tittered Mister Hornet numbly, 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 Jackal courageously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," mentioned Mister Hornet angrily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the four-poster bed on his front porch, looking out over the forest and digesting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Jackal. Do come again."

"Just a minute," clarified Mister Jackal courageously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hornet sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied deliberately.