Mister Hedgehog And The New Neighbor

Mister Hedgehog lived in a marsh in an office made of cookie dough. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover waffles, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Crab standing there, her hands on her lip. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Crab," Mister Hedgehog blustered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shuddered Mrs. Crab. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" conversed Mister Hedgehog ingeniously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Harvey Wallbanger?"

"I can't stay," amended Mrs. Crab. I just want to ask you what you think of the moose that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," cackled Mister Hedgehog. "I didn't know about any moose. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," pointed out Mrs. Crab breathlessly. "I heard that this moose likes to toss floppy disks."

"Um, I don't know what to say," spoke up Mister Hedgehog, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Crab, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of moose tossing floppy disks?"

"I can't imagine," cried Mister Hedgehog.

"What are we going to do about it?" intimated Mrs. Crab.

"Appoint a committee?" responded Mister Hedgehog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Crab had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," moaned Mister Hedgehog gracefully, 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. Crab again. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," retorted Mister Hedgehog humbly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on his front porch, looking out over the marsh and showing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Crab. Do come again."

"Just a minute," piped up Mrs. Crab caustically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hedgehog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied vigorously.