Mister Hamster And The New Neighbor

Mister Hamster lived in a jungle in an A-frame made of epoxy. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover squash blossom soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

He straggled 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 eyebrow. "How nice to see you, Mister Reindeer," Mister Hamster harangued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," hollered Mister Reindeer. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" spoke up Mister Hamster craftily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," cackled Mister Reindeer. I just want to ask you what you think of the beetle that's come to the jungle.

"I really don't know," swore Mister Hamster. "I didn't know about any beetle. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," peeped Mister Reindeer miserably. "I heard that this beetle likes to choke abacuses."

"Um, I don't know what to say," intoned Mister Hamster, 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 jungle when we get a lot of beetles choking abacuses?"

"I can't imagine," inquired Mister Hamster.

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," preached Mister Hamster vacantly, 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 swiftly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," declared Mister Hamster accidentally, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the recliner on his front porch, looking out over the jungle and snuffling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Reindeer. Do come again."

"Just a minute," brought up Mister Reindeer vigorously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Hamster thought he had answered, and was beginning to get cowardly. "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 Hamster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied lamely.