Mister Mongoose And The New Neighbor

Mister Mongoose lived on a range in a mobile home made of papier-mâché. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tuna casserole, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" snorted Mister Mongoose irritably, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of champagne?"

"I can't stay," babbled Mister Squirrel. I just want to ask you what you think of the gopher that's come to the range.

"I really don't know," reacted Mister Mongoose. "I didn't know about any gopher. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," retorted Mister Squirrel brightly. "I heard that this gopher likes to replace ping-pong paddles."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Squirrel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the range when we get a lot of gophers replacing ping-pong paddles?"

"I can't imagine," panted Mister Mongoose.

"What are we going to do about it?" spoke up Mister Squirrel.

"Appoint a committee?" shuddered Mister Mongoose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Squirrel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chanted Mister Mongoose innocently, 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 Squirrel openly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," giggled Mister Mongoose charmingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the wooden crate on his front porch, looking out over the range and flinching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Squirrel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sniveled Mister Squirrel coolly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Mongoose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gleefully.