Mister Boar And The New Neighbor

Mister Boar lived in a hayfield in a park bench made of steel. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover duck a l'orange, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Beaver standing there, his hands on his ego. "How nice to see you, Mister Beaver," Mister Boar alleged, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," chuckled Mister Beaver. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" divulged Mister Boar resignedly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of carrot juice?"

"I can't stay," interrupted Mister Beaver. I just want to ask you what you think of the giraffe that's come to the hayfield.

"I really don't know," observed Mister Boar. "I didn't know about any giraffe. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," boasted Mister Beaver tenderly. "I heard that this giraffe likes to bend barbells."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Beaver, 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 giraffes bending barbells?"

"I can't imagine," nattered Mister Boar.

"What are we going to do about it?" analyzed Mister Beaver.

"Appoint a committee?" smiled Mister Boar, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Beaver had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," opined Mister Boar proudly, 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 Beaver haughtily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," reasoned Mister Boar clumsily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dishwasher on his front porch, looking out over the hayfield and weeping. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Beaver. Do come again."

"Just a minute," added Mister Beaver zestily. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Boar sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied accidentally.