Mister Bullfrog And The New Neighbor

Mister Bullfrog lived in a desert in a loft made of cards. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover ice cream, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Alligator standing there, her hands on her rib. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Alligator," Mister Bullfrog sniped, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," sniffed Mrs. Alligator. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" repeated Mister Bullfrog victoriously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a root beer?"

"I can't stay," pleaded Mrs. Alligator. I just want to ask you what you think of the deer that's come to the desert.

"I really don't know," wondered Mister Bullfrog. "I didn't know about any deer. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," howled Mrs. Alligator hopefully. "I heard that this deer likes to ignore joints."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Alligator, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the desert when we get a lot of deer ignoring joints?"

"I can't imagine," yammered Mister Bullfrog.

"What are we going to do about it?" stated Mrs. Alligator.

"Appoint a committee?" cajoled Mister Bullfrog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Alligator had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," interpreted Mister Bullfrog sorrowfully, 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. Alligator ingeniously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," rationalized Mister Bullfrog victoriously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the computer on his front porch, looking out over the desert and blowing up. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Alligator. Do come again."

"Just a minute," queried Mrs. Alligator ignobly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bullfrog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied crankily.