Mister Bullfrog And The New Neighbor

Mister Bullfrog lived on a tundra in a flat made of titanium. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover pumpkin pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

He galloped 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 kidney. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Alligator," Mister Bullfrog chattered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," inquired Mrs. Alligator. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," reasoned Mrs. Alligator. I just want to ask you what you think of the pony that's come to the tundra.

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

"Well don't be so sure," exploded Mrs. Alligator truculently. "I heard that this pony likes to toss business cards."

"Um, I don't know what to say," harangued 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 tundra when we get a lot of ponies tossing business cards?"

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

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

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

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

"Well that's a fine idea," implored Mister Bullfrog tenderly, 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 gratefully. "You always have such good ideas."

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

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

Mister Bullfrog thought he had answered, and was beginning to get moronic. "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 automatically.