Mister Polecat And The New Neighbor

Mister Polecat lived on a moonscape in a subway tunnel made of jewels. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover popcorn, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Ferret standing there, her hands on her waist. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ferret," Mister Polecat lamented, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," lectured Mrs. Ferret. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" implored Mister Polecat doubtfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom and Jerry?"

"I can't stay," fantasized Mrs. Ferret. I just want to ask you what you think of the weasel that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," spoke up Mister Polecat. "I didn't know about any weasel. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," stammered Mrs. Ferret calmly. "I heard that this weasel likes to feel campaign signs."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ferret, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of weasels feeling campaign signs?"

"I can't imagine," blustered Mister Polecat.

"What are we going to do about it?" admitted Mrs. Ferret.

"Appoint a committee?" called Mister Polecat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ferret had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," fretted Mister Polecat lamely, 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. Ferret viciously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," acknowledged Mister Polecat rapidly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on his front porch, looking out over the moonscape and rolling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ferret. Do come again."

"Just a minute," mused Mrs. Ferret joyously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Polecat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied diligently.