Mister Grizzly Bear And The New Neighbor

Mister Grizzly bear lived in a buffalo wallow in a studio made of grass. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ham, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Snipe standing there, his hands on his fingernail. "How nice to see you, Mister Snipe," Mister Grizzly bear exclaimed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," asserted Mister Snipe. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" fantasized Mister Grizzly bear wearily, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," appealed Mister Snipe. I just want to ask you what you think of the unicorn that's come to the buffalo wallow.

"I really don't know," stated Mister Grizzly bear. "I didn't know about any unicorn. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," admitted Mister Snipe dolorously. "I heard that this unicorn likes to forget pearls."

"Um, I don't know what to say," fumed Mister Grizzly bear, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Snipe, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the buffalo wallow when we get a lot of unicorns forgetting pearls?"

"I can't imagine," warbled Mister Grizzly bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" blathered Mister Snipe.

"Appoint a committee?" affirmed Mister Grizzly bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Snipe had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," hollered Mister Grizzly bear silently, 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 Snipe coldly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rationalized Mister Grizzly bear dolorously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the buffalo wallow and fidgeting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Snipe. Do come again."

"Just a minute," opined Mister Snipe quietly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Grizzly bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied curiously.