Mister Basset Hound And The New Neighbor

Mister Basset hound lived in a circus tent in a loft made of manure. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pot roast, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Wolverine standing there, his hands on his antenna. "How nice to see you, Mister Wolverine," Mister Basset hound rumored, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," ranted Mister Wolverine. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" conversed Mister Basset hound intensely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Pepto Bismol?"

"I can't stay," stormed Mister Wolverine. I just want to ask you what you think of the manatee that's come to the circus tent.

"I really don't know," yowled Mister Basset hound. "I didn't know about any manatee. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," revealed Mister Wolverine effortlessly. "I heard that this manatee likes to admire advertisements."

"Um, I don't know what to say," fumed Mister Basset hound, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Wolverine, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the circus tent when we get a lot of manatees admiring advertisements?"

"I can't imagine," suggested Mister Basset hound.

"What are we going to do about it?" offered Mister Wolverine.

"Appoint a committee?" noted Mister Basset hound, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Wolverine had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chanted Mister Basset hound clumsily, 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 Wolverine uselessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chuckled Mister Basset hound resignedly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the display case on his front porch, looking out over the circus tent and yawning. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Wolverine. Do come again."

"Just a minute," murmured Mister Wolverine sharply. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Basset hound sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied majestically.