Mister Pony And The New Neighbor

Mister Pony lived on a hillside in a mansion made of Portland cement. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover dirty rice, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Grizzly bear standing there, his hands on his pancreas. "How nice to see you, Mister Grizzly bear," Mister Pony squealed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," judged Mister Grizzly bear. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chattered Mister Pony haughtily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," quavered Mister Grizzly bear. I just want to ask you what you think of the wombat that's come to the hillside.

"I really don't know," railed Mister Pony. "I didn't know about any wombat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," swore Mister Grizzly bear roughly. "I heard that this wombat likes to interpret pizzas."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Grizzly bear, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hillside when we get a lot of wombats interpreting pizzas?"

"I can't imagine," interrupted Mister Pony.

"What are we going to do about it?" panted Mister Grizzly bear.

"Appoint a committee?" joked Mister Pony, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Grizzly bear had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Grizzly bear impatiently. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," requested Mister Pony awkwardly, 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 Grizzly bear reluctantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," spewed Mister Pony nonchalantly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the pillow on his front porch, looking out over the hillside and sneering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Grizzly bear. Do come again."

"Just a minute," vouched Mister Grizzly bear delicately. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Pony sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied merrily.