Mister Kangaroo And The New Neighbor

Mister Kangaroo lived in a gully in a trailer made of sandstone. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover borscht, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Chicken standing there, his hands on his hoof. "How nice to see you, Mister Chicken," Mister Kangaroo indicated, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spouted Mister Chicken. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" quoted Mister Kangaroo madly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of bouillon?"

"I can't stay," griped Mister Chicken. I just want to ask you what you think of the teddy bear that's come to the gully.

"I really don't know," ranted Mister Kangaroo. "I didn't know about any teddy bear. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rationalized Mister Chicken gratefully. "I heard that this teddy bear likes to neglect flashlights."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Chicken, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the gully when we get a lot of teddy bears neglecting flashlights?"

"I can't imagine," voiced Mister Kangaroo.

"What are we going to do about it?" lamented Mister Chicken.

"Appoint a committee?" questioned Mister Kangaroo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Chicken had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," giggled Mister Kangaroo glumly, 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 Chicken automatically. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yelped Mister Kangaroo accidentally, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on his front porch, looking out over the gully and dithering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Chicken. Do come again."

"Just a minute," emphasized Mister Chicken repeatedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Kangaroo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied speedily.