Mister Wolf And The New Neighbor

Mister Wolf lived on a plateau in a stinky shack made of seaweed. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover popcorn, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Mustang standing there, his hands on his dignity. "How nice to see you, Mister Mustang," Mister Wolf responded, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," rebutted Mister Mustang. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" jeered Mister Wolf uselessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cambric tea?"

"I can't stay," explained Mister Mustang. I just want to ask you what you think of the warthog that's come to the plateau.

"I really don't know," commented Mister Wolf. "I didn't know about any warthog. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," analyzed Mister Mustang majestically. "I heard that this warthog likes to scrub coupons."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Mustang, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plateau when we get a lot of warthogs scrubbing coupons?"

"I can't imagine," muttered Mister Wolf.

"What are we going to do about it?" conversed Mister Mustang.

"Appoint a committee?" railed Mister Wolf, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Mustang had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," drawled Mister Wolf grandly, 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 Mustang carelessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," whined Mister Wolf unabashedly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the file cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the plateau and cringing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Mustang. Do come again."

"Just a minute," fantasized Mister Mustang strictly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Wolf sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gleefully.