Mister Rabbit And The New Neighbor

Mister Rabbit lived in a neighborhood in a crypt made of enamel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cherries jubilee, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Spider standing there, her hands on her femur. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Spider," Mister Rabbit prattled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," queried Mrs. Spider. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" urged Mister Rabbit viciously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of apricot juice?"

"I can't stay," pointed out Mrs. Spider. I just want to ask you what you think of the finch that's come to the neighborhood.

"I really don't know," chortled Mister Rabbit. "I didn't know about any finch. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," grunted Mrs. Spider strangely. "I heard that this finch likes to stitch decks of cards."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Spider, 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 finches stitching decks of cards?"

"I can't imagine," contended Mister Rabbit.

"What are we going to do about it?" railed Mrs. Spider.

"Appoint a committee?" boomed Mister Rabbit, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Spider had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Spider pitifully. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," giggled Mister Rabbit wryly, 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. Spider slyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," conversed Mister Rabbit quietly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the desk on his front porch, looking out over the neighborhood and swallowing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Spider. Do come again."

"Just a minute," invited Mrs. Spider ignobly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Rabbit sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied confidently.