Mister Horse And The New Neighbor

Mister Horse lived at a lakeside in a skyscraper made of felt. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover fried eggs, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Worm standing there, his hands on his brain. "How nice to see you, Mister Worm," Mister Horse railed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," moaned Mister Worm. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cajoled Mister Horse demurely, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a beer?"

"I can't stay," stormed Mister Worm. I just want to ask you what you think of the monster that's come to the lakeside.

"I really don't know," boomed Mister Horse. "I didn't know about any monster. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," guessed Mister Worm impatiently. "I heard that this monster likes to bleach packs of gum."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Worm, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the lakeside when we get a lot of monsters bleaching packs of gum?"

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

"What are we going to do about it?" spoke up Mister Worm.

"Appoint a committee?" babbled Mister Horse, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Worm had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," emphasized Mister Horse lazily, 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 Worm nicely. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," groveled Mister Horse lovingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the footstool on his front porch, looking out over the lakeside and wincing. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Worm. Do come again."

"Just a minute," amended Mister Worm perkily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Horse sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied fiercely.