Mister Kangaroo And The New Neighbor

Mister Kangaroo lived in a canyon in a resort made of Bakelite. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover corn on the cob, 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 Mister Finch standing there, his hands on his jaw. "How nice to see you, Mister Finch," Mister Kangaroo sputtered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," rumored Mister Finch. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" prattled Mister Kangaroo fiercely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of eggnog?"

"I can't stay," railed Mister Finch. I just want to ask you what you think of the Chihuahua that's come to the canyon.

"I really don't know," concluded Mister Kangaroo. "I didn't know about any Chihuahua. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," tittered Mister Finch glumly. "I heard that this Chihuahua likes to unwrap balloons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Finch, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the canyon when we get a lot of Chihuahuas unwrapping balloons?"

"I can't imagine," debated Mister Kangaroo.

"What are we going to do about it?" remarked Mister Finch.

"Appoint a committee?" yowled Mister Kangaroo, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Finch had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," spoke up Mister Kangaroo hopefully, 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 Finch suavely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," avowed Mister Kangaroo ingeniously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on his front porch, looking out over the canyon and getting dizzy. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Finch. Do come again."

"Just a minute," reacted Mister Finch obediently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Kangaroo sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied ingeniously.