Mister Louse And The New Neighbor

Mister Louse lived on a plain in a trailer made of cards. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover sushi, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Eel standing there, his hands on his nose. "How nice to see you, Mister Eel," Mister Louse harangued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," exclaimed Mister Eel. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" blathered Mister Louse proudly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Cuba libre?"

"I can't stay," smiled Mister Eel. I just want to ask you what you think of the Chihuahua that's come to the plain.

"I really don't know," smiled Mister Louse. "I didn't know about any Chihuahua. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," screeched Mister Eel zestily. "I heard that this Chihuahua likes to trim horseshoes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Eel, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plain when we get a lot of Chihuahuas trimming horseshoes?"

"I can't imagine," squeaked Mister Louse.

"What are we going to do about it?" fumed Mister Eel.

"Appoint a committee?" queried Mister Louse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Eel had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," giggled Mister Louse offhandedly, 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 Eel pityingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," yawned Mister Louse daintily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bookshelf on his front porch, looking out over the plain and doing the Hokey Pokey. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Eel. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intimated Mister Eel gratefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Louse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied victoriously.