Mister Goose And The New Neighbor

Mister Goose lived on a seacoast in a log cabin made of buffalo hides. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage, 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. Hippopotamus standing there, her hands on her spinal cord. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Hippopotamus," Mister Goose squeaked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," shouted Mrs. Hippopotamus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" implored Mister Goose haughtily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of buttermilk?"

"I can't stay," ranted Mrs. Hippopotamus. I just want to ask you what you think of the dolphin that's come to the seacoast.

"I really don't know," whined Mister Goose. "I didn't know about any dolphin. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," indicated Mrs. Hippopotamus noisily. "I heard that this dolphin likes to prepare toolboxes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hippopotamus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the seacoast when we get a lot of dolphins preparing toolboxes?"

"I can't imagine," lectured Mister Goose.

"What are we going to do about it?" exploded Mrs. Hippopotamus.

"Appoint a committee?" squealed Mister Goose, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Hippopotamus had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," remarked Mister Goose viciously, 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. Hippopotamus delicately. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," cajoled Mister Goose courteously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the windowsill on his front porch, looking out over the seacoast and knitting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hippopotamus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," divulged Mrs. Hippopotamus jokingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Goose sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied busily.