Mister Hamster And The New Neighbor

Mister Hamster lived in a bog in a teepee made of plastic. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover burritos, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Poodle standing there, his hands on his head. "How nice to see you, Mister Poodle," Mister Hamster sobbed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yammered Mister Poodle. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" pointed out Mister Hamster mysteriously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a dose of cod liver oil?"

"I can't stay," complained Mister Poodle. I just want to ask you what you think of the polecat that's come to the bog.

"I really don't know," intimated Mister Hamster. "I didn't know about any polecat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," brought up Mister Poodle temperamentally. "I heard that this polecat likes to strike pieces of candy."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Poodle, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the bog when we get a lot of polecats striking pieces of candy?"

"I can't imagine," uttered Mister Hamster.

"What are we going to do about it?" yowled Mister Poodle.

"Appoint a committee?" asserted Mister Hamster, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Poodle had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," chuckled Mister Hamster victoriously, 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 Poodle grandly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," thought Mister Hamster greedily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rocking chair on his front porch, looking out over the bog and fidgeting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Poodle. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sneered Mister Poodle resignedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Hamster sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied grudgingly.