Mister Wombat And The New Neighbor

Mister Wombat lived in a hayfield in a hut made of dirt. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover egg drop soup, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Cat standing there, her hands on her stomach. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Cat," Mister Wombat declaimed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," persisted Mrs. Cat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" chortled Mister Wombat sagely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Seven and Seven?"

"I can't stay," yammered Mrs. Cat. I just want to ask you what you think of the magpie that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," clarified Mister Wombat. "I didn't know about any magpie. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," rambled Mrs. Cat crossly. "I heard that this magpie likes to wallop toothbrushes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Cat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the hayfield when we get a lot of magpies walloping toothbrushes?"

"I can't imagine," quoted Mister Wombat.

"What are we going to do about it?" vowed Mrs. Cat.

"Appoint a committee?" persisted Mister Wombat, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Cat had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," asserted Mister Wombat 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. Cat slyly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chortled Mister Wombat quietly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dining table on his front porch, looking out over the hayfield and staring into space. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Cat. Do come again."

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

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

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

Mister Wombat sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied brightly.