Mister Hedgehog And The New Neighbor

Mister Hedgehog lived on a peninsula in a spa made of yarn. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover doughnuts, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Horsie standing there, her hands on her belly button. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Horsie," Mister Hedgehog pleaded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," informed Mrs. Horsie. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" urged Mister Hedgehog lazily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," provoked Mrs. Horsie. I just want to ask you what you think of the beagle that's come to the peninsula.

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

"Well don't be so sure," debated Mrs. Horsie courteously. "I heard that this beagle likes to disguise pairs of knitting needles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Horsie, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the peninsula when we get a lot of beagles disguising pairs of knitting needles?"

"I can't imagine," whispered Mister Hedgehog.

"What are we going to do about it?" affirmed Mrs. Horsie.

"Appoint a committee?" simpered Mister Hedgehog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Horsie had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," croaked Mister Hedgehog resignedly, 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. Horsie primly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," clarified Mister Hedgehog pityingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the peninsula and puffing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Horsie. Do come again."

"Just a minute," laughed Mrs. Horsie automatically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hedgehog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied frantically.