Mister Dromedary And The New Neighbor

Mister Dromedary lived in a neighborhood in a convent made of sand. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sweet potatoes, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Duck-billed platypus standing there, her hands on her earlobe. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Duck-billed platypus," Mister Dromedary yelped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," intimated Mrs. Duck-billed platypus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" argued Mister Dromedary hungrily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom Collins?"

"I can't stay," provoked Mrs. Duck-billed platypus. I just want to ask you what you think of the phantom that's come to the neighborhood.

"I really don't know," brought up Mister Dromedary. "I didn't know about any phantom. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," expressed Mrs. Duck-billed platypus ferociously. "I heard that this phantom likes to destroy cotton balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Duck-billed platypus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the neighborhood when we get a lot of phantoms destroying cotton balls?"

"I can't imagine," blathered Mister Dromedary.

"What are we going to do about it?" demanded Mrs. Duck-billed platypus.

"Appoint a committee?" persisted Mister Dromedary, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Duck-billed platypus had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Duck-billed platypus sarcastically. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," snarled Mister Dromedary boldly, 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. Duck-billed platypus stealthily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," squeaked Mister Dromedary violently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on his front porch, looking out over the neighborhood and curtseying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Duck-billed platypus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," quavered Mrs. Duck-billed platypus solemnly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Dromedary thought he had answered, and was beginning to get friendly. "Thank you so much for thinking of me. It is a lovely day, isn't it? How is Mister Duck-billed platypus doing these days?"

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

Mister Dromedary sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied bitterly.