Mister Beaver And The New Neighbor

Mister Beaver lived in a jungle in a monastery made of aluminum foil. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg salad sandwich, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Cocker spaniel standing there, her hands on her knuckle. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cocker spaniel," Mister Beaver wailed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," quoted Mrs. Cocker spaniel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" croaked Mister Beaver brightly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," smirked Mrs. Cocker spaniel. I just want to ask you what you think of the chipmunk that's come to the jungle.

"I really don't know," provoked Mister Beaver. "I didn't know about any chipmunk. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," griped Mrs. Cocker spaniel excitedly. "I heard that this chipmunk likes to leave stacks of papers."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cocker spaniel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the jungle when we get a lot of chipmunks leaving stacks of papers?"

"I can't imagine," fretted Mister Beaver.

"What are we going to do about it?" cried Mrs. Cocker spaniel.

"Appoint a committee?" vowed Mister Beaver, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cocker spaniel had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Cocker spaniel fearfully. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," implored Mister Beaver woefully, 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. Cocker spaniel courageously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," fumed Mister Beaver gruffly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the file cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the jungle and dancing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cocker spaniel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," growled Mrs. Cocker spaniel oddly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Beaver sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied unexpectedly.