Mister Beagle And The New Neighbor

Mister Beagle lived in a lagoon in a retreat made of ribbons. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover brownies, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Rat standing there, his hands on his skull. "How nice to see you, Mister Rat," Mister Beagle announced, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," analyzed Mister Rat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" reacted Mister Beagle sternly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you an old fashioned?"

"I can't stay," spouted Mister Rat. I just want to ask you what you think of the horsie that's come to the lagoon.

"I really don't know," brought up Mister Beagle. "I didn't know about any horsie. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," peeped Mister Rat softly. "I heard that this horsie likes to moisten pieces of chalk."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Rat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lagoon when we get a lot of horsies moistening pieces of chalk?"

"I can't imagine," phrased Mister Beagle.

"What are we going to do about it?" announced Mister Rat.

"Appoint a committee?" harangued Mister Beagle, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Rat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," remarked Mister Beagle sleepily, 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 Rat arrogantly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," peeped Mister Beagle testily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the casket on his front porch, looking out over the lagoon and wandering. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Rat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," hollered Mister Rat demurely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Beagle sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied frantically.