Mister Toad And The New Neighbor

Mister Toad lived on a savanna in a closet made of bamboo. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover applesauce, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Wombat standing there, her hands on her throat. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Wombat," Mister Toad whispered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," urged Mrs. Wombat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" asserted Mister Toad energetically, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an Alka-Seltzer?"

"I can't stay," alleged Mrs. Wombat. I just want to ask you what you think of the ghost that's come to the savanna.

"I really don't know," tittered Mister Toad. "I didn't know about any ghost. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," realized Mrs. Wombat oddly. "I heard that this ghost likes to play with beach balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Wombat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the savanna when we get a lot of ghosts playing with beach balls?"

"I can't imagine," railed Mister Toad.

"What are we going to do about it?" amended Mrs. Wombat.

"Appoint a committee?" murmured Mister Toad, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Wombat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," acknowledged Mister Toad happily, 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. Wombat uneasily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," gasped Mister Toad shakily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on his front porch, looking out over the savanna and playing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Wombat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," shouted Mrs. Wombat trustingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Toad sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied carelessly.