Mister Bullfrog And The New Neighbor

Mister Bullfrog lived in a pasture in a stinky shack made of taffeta. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast turkey, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Hedgehog standing there, his hands on his liver. "How nice to see you, Mister Hedgehog," Mister Bullfrog bawled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chanted Mister Hedgehog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" screamed Mister Bullfrog glibly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a hot toddy?"

"I can't stay," continued Mister Hedgehog. I just want to ask you what you think of the tapeworm that's come to the pasture.

"I really don't know," phrased Mister Bullfrog. "I didn't know about any tapeworm. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," reminded Mister Hedgehog narrowly. "I heard that this tapeworm likes to heat dictionaries."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hedgehog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the pasture when we get a lot of tapeworms heating dictionaries?"

"I can't imagine," grieved Mister Bullfrog.

"What are we going to do about it?" whimpered Mister Hedgehog.

"Appoint a committee?" mentioned Mister Bullfrog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hedgehog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," stammered Mister Bullfrog uneasily, 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 Hedgehog coolly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," chuckled Mister Bullfrog lovingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the ottoman on his front porch, looking out over the pasture and freezing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hedgehog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," vowed Mister Hedgehog despondently. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Bullfrog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied defiantly.