Mister Polar Bear And The New Neighbor

Mister Polar bear lived on a mountaintop in a loft made of plastic. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover omelet, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Ostrich standing there, her hands on her finger. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Ostrich," Mister Polar bear fantasized, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," panted Mrs. Ostrich. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" acknowledged Mister Polar bear surreptitiously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a 7-Up?"

"I can't stay," articulated Mrs. Ostrich. I just want to ask you what you think of the hamster that's come to the mountaintop.

"I really don't know," comforted Mister Polar bear. "I didn't know about any hamster. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," continued Mrs. Ostrich fearlessly. "I heard that this hamster likes to switch coins."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Ostrich, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the mountaintop when we get a lot of hamsters switching coins?"

"I can't imagine," said Mister Polar bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" observed Mrs. Ostrich.

"Appoint a committee?" sputtered Mister Polar bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Ostrich had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," bragged Mister Polar bear fiercely, 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. Ostrich mysteriously. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," expressed Mister Polar bear firmly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the floor on his front porch, looking out over the mountaintop and dealing cards. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Ostrich. Do come again."

"Just a minute," informed Mrs. Ostrich lovingly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Polar bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied vigorously.