Mister Muskrat And The New Neighbor

Mister Muskrat lived in a marsh in a manor house made of old bottles. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover Froot Loops, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Beagle standing there, his hands on his pinky. "How nice to see you, Mister Beagle," Mister Muskrat blubbered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," invited Mister Beagle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" hollered Mister Muskrat bravely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apple juice?"

"I can't stay," howled Mister Beagle. I just want to ask you what you think of the lark that's come to the marsh.

"I really don't know," whined Mister Muskrat. "I didn't know about any lark. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," vouched Mister Beagle bitterly. "I heard that this lark likes to compress Lego sets."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Beagle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the marsh when we get a lot of larks compressing Lego sets?"

"I can't imagine," comforted Mister Muskrat.

"What are we going to do about it?" appealed Mister Beagle.

"Appoint a committee?" instructed Mister Muskrat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Beagle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," orated Mister Muskrat pityingly, 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 Beagle obediently. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," murmured Mister Muskrat quickly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the display case on his front porch, looking out over the marsh and pausing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Beagle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," wondered Mister Beagle sheepishly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Muskrat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied cunningly.