Mister Elephant And The New Neighbor

Mister Elephant lived in a buffalo wallow in a log cabin made of bubbles. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast Cornish game hen, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Reindeer standing there, his hands on his wig. "How nice to see you, Mister Reindeer," Mister Elephant offered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," persisted Mister Reindeer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" sniffed Mister Elephant hopelessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer float?"

"I can't stay," shuddered Mister Reindeer. I just want to ask you what you think of the bunny that's come to the buffalo wallow.

"I really don't know," hinted Mister Elephant. "I didn't know about any bunny. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," babbled Mister Reindeer frantically. "I heard that this bunny likes to empty sticks."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Reindeer, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the buffalo wallow when we get a lot of bunnies emptying sticks?"

"I can't imagine," declaimed Mister Elephant.

"What are we going to do about it?" wept Mister Reindeer.

"Appoint a committee?" lectured Mister Elephant, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Reindeer had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," orated Mister Elephant sorrowfully, 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 Reindeer greedily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," disputed Mister Elephant numbly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rug on his front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and vegetating. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Reindeer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," continued Mister Reindeer grimly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Elephant sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied demurely.