Mister Beaver And The New Neighbor

Mister Beaver lived in a pond in a skyscraper made of fairy dust. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover hot dogs, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Snake standing there, his hands on his kneecap. "How nice to see you, Mister Snake," Mister Beaver spat, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chortled Mister Snake. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" yelled Mister Beaver wryly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an ice cream soda?"

"I can't stay," wondered Mister Snake. I just want to ask you what you think of the anteater that's come to the pond.

"I really don't know," exploded Mister Beaver. "I didn't know about any anteater. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," yelled Mister Snake testily. "I heard that this anteater likes to score coupons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Snake, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pond when we get a lot of anteaters scoring coupons?"

"I can't imagine," whimpered Mister Beaver.

"What are we going to do about it?" winked Mister Snake.

"Appoint a committee?" sputtered Mister Beaver, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Snake had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," purred Mister Beaver woodenly, 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 Snake grudgingly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chortled Mister Beaver steadily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the hatstand on his front porch, looking out over the pond and blanking out. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Snake. Do come again."

"Just a minute," divulged Mister Snake sleepily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Beaver sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied sweetly.