Mister Sheep And The New Neighbor

Mister Sheep lived beside a river in a flat made of onyx. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fondue, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Eel standing there, her hands on her antenna. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Eel," Mister Sheep uttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shrieked Mrs. Eel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" amended Mister Sheep numbly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cappuccino?"

"I can't stay," gasped Mrs. Eel. I just want to ask you what you think of the rabbit that's come to the river.

"I really don't know," queried Mister Sheep. "I didn't know about any rabbit. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," drawled Mrs. Eel unnaturally. "I heard that this rabbit likes to pull sponges."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Eel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the river when we get a lot of rabbits pulling sponges?"

"I can't imagine," avowed Mister Sheep.

"What are we going to do about it?" guessed Mrs. Eel.

"Appoint a committee?" boomed Mister Sheep, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Eel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," rumored Mister Sheep testily, 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. Eel woefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sputtered Mister Sheep viciously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ironing board on his front porch, looking out over the river and dealing cards. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Eel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," rebutted Mrs. Eel positively. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Sheep sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sorrowfully.