Mister Koala And The New Neighbor

Mister Koala lived in a meadow in an office made of mud bricks. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cinnamon toast, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Dingo standing there, her hands on her rib. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Dingo," Mister Koala decided, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," boomed Mrs. Dingo. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" clarified Mister Koala hopelessly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom and Jerry?"

"I can't stay," vouched Mrs. Dingo. I just want to ask you what you think of the snipe that's come to the meadow.

"I really don't know," thought Mister Koala. "I didn't know about any snipe. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," imitated Mrs. Dingo suspiciously. "I heard that this snipe likes to prepare elephant tusks."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Dingo, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the meadow when we get a lot of snipes preparing elephant tusks?"

"I can't imagine," yowled Mister Koala.

"What are we going to do about it?" quoted Mrs. Dingo.

"Appoint a committee?" hinted Mister Koala, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Dingo had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," amended Mister Koala pitifully, 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. Dingo fearlessly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," proposed Mister Koala crazily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the table on his front porch, looking out over the meadow and barking. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Dingo. Do come again."

"Just a minute," agreed Mrs. Dingo cautiously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Koala sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied gently.