Mister Crab And The New Neighbor

Mister Crab lived in a village in a studio made of buffalo hides. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover lasagna, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Puppy standing there, his hands on his eyeball. "How nice to see you, Mister Puppy," Mister Crab rambled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," proposed Mister Puppy. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" whimpered Mister Crab urgently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of tomato juice?"

"I can't stay," stuttered Mister Puppy. I just want to ask you what you think of the bunny that's come to the village.

"I really don't know," revealed Mister Crab. "I didn't know about any bunny. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," snarled Mister Puppy accidentally. "I heard that this bunny likes to soften daisies."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Puppy, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the village when we get a lot of bunnies softening daisies?"

"I can't imagine," amended Mister Crab.

"What are we going to do about it?" fretted Mister Puppy.

"Appoint a committee?" recited Mister Crab, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Puppy had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," cackled Mister Crab deliberately, 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 Puppy bravely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," sputtered Mister Crab confidently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the computer on his front porch, looking out over the village and getting sleepy. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Puppy. Do come again."

"Just a minute," accused Mister Puppy woefully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Crab sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied daintily.