Mister Bat And The New Neighbor

Mister Bat lived beside a creek in a chalet made of cold rolled steel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Mare standing there, his hands on his claw. "How nice to see you, Mister Mare," Mister Bat decided, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chanted Mister Mare. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" declaimed Mister Bat daringly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an iced tea?"

"I can't stay," appealed Mister Mare. I just want to ask you what you think of the mosquito that's come to the creek.

"I really don't know," amended Mister Bat. "I didn't know about any mosquito. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sighed Mister Mare lickety-split. "I heard that this mosquito likes to catch pom-poms."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mare, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the creek when we get a lot of mosquitoes catching pom-poms?"

"I can't imagine," revealed Mister Bat.

"What are we going to do about it?" bellowed Mister Mare.

"Appoint a committee?" chanted Mister Bat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mare had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," fretted Mister Bat proudly, 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 Mare steadily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," questioned Mister Bat hysterically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the safe on his front porch, looking out over the creek and itching. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mare. Do come again."

"Just a minute," declared Mister Mare impatiently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied thoughtfully.