Mister Ferret And The New Neighbor

Mister Ferret lived on a moonscape in a housing project made of copper. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover jambalaya, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Porcupine standing there, his hands on his back. "How nice to see you, Mister Porcupine," Mister Ferret screeched, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," taunted Mister Porcupine. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" articulated Mister Ferret gently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a gimlet?"

"I can't stay," squawked Mister Porcupine. I just want to ask you what you think of the puppy that's come to the moonscape.

"I really don't know," swore Mister Ferret. "I didn't know about any puppy. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," croaked Mister Porcupine arrogantly. "I heard that this puppy likes to bite bird feeders."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Porcupine, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the moonscape when we get a lot of puppies biting bird feeders?"

"I can't imagine," wept Mister Ferret.

"What are we going to do about it?" shuddered Mister Porcupine.

"Appoint a committee?" argued Mister Ferret, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Porcupine had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," shrieked Mister Ferret boisterously, 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 Porcupine wryly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," asked Mister Ferret unnaturally, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the settee on his front porch, looking out over the moonscape and playing Farmer in the Dell. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Porcupine. Do come again."

"Just a minute," realized Mister Porcupine greedily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

Mister Ferret 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. Porcupine doing these days?"

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

Mister Ferret sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gratefully.