Mister German Shepherd And The New Neighbor

Mister German Shepherd lived in a grassland in a wigwam made of seaweed. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lobster bisque, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

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

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cackled Mister German Shepherd later, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Shirley Temple?"

"I can't stay," declared Mrs. Boar. I just want to ask you what you think of the peacock that's come to the grassland.

"I really don't know," spouted Mister German Shepherd. "I didn't know about any peacock. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," alleged Mrs. Boar hastily. "I heard that this peacock likes to lengthen garbage cans."

"Um, I don't know what to say," rebutted Mister German Shepherd, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mrs. Boar, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the grassland when we get a lot of peacocks lengthening garbage cans?"

"I can't imagine," vouched Mister German Shepherd.

"What are we going to do about it?" decided Mrs. Boar.

"Appoint a committee?" indicated Mister German Shepherd, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Boar had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," emphasized Mister German Shepherd mysteriously, 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. Boar brightly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," guessed Mister German Shepherd elatedly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the grassland and collapsing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Boar. Do come again."

"Just a minute," groaned Mrs. Boar fervently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister German Shepherd sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied swiftly.