Mister Hedgehog And The New Neighbor

Mister Hedgehog lived in a pond in a housing project made of pillows. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sauerkraut, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Cobra standing there, his hands on his appendix. "How nice to see you, Mister Cobra," Mister Hedgehog protested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," gasped Mister Cobra. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" urged Mister Hedgehog ruefully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a beer?"

"I can't stay," retorted Mister Cobra. I just want to ask you what you think of the jackal that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," burbled Mister Hedgehog. "I didn't know about any jackal. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," cajoled Mister Cobra blindly. "I heard that this jackal likes to brandish toothbrushes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Cobra, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of jackals brandishing toothbrushes?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" croaked Mister Cobra.

"Appoint a committee?" continued Mister Hedgehog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Cobra had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," lamented Mister Hedgehog briskly, 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 Cobra speedily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," analyzed Mister Hedgehog crazily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ironing board on his front porch, looking out over the pond and cogitating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Cobra. Do come again."

"Just a minute," rebutted Mister Cobra nimbly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Hedgehog 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. Cobra doing these days?"

Mister Cobra 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 dubiously.