Mister Cockroach And The New Neighbor

Mister Cockroach lived in a field in a house made of sandstone. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tofu, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Rabbit standing there, her hands on her forehead. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Rabbit," Mister Cockroach winked, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," snorted Mrs. Rabbit. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" revealed Mister Cockroach glibly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a double latte?"

"I can't stay," bellowed Mrs. Rabbit. I just want to ask you what you think of the puppy that's come to the field.

"I really don't know," mumbled Mister Cockroach. "I didn't know about any puppy. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," taunted Mrs. Rabbit gruffly. "I heard that this puppy likes to decorate amulets."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Rabbit, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the field when we get a lot of puppies decorating amulets?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" repeated Mrs. Rabbit.

"Appoint a committee?" sniffed Mister Cockroach, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Rabbit had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," said Mister Cockroach zestily, 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. Rabbit busily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," repeated Mister Cockroach firmly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the credenza on his front porch, looking out over the field and nodding. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Rabbit. Do come again."

"Just a minute," conversed Mrs. Rabbit resignedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cockroach sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied threateningly.