Mister Walrus And The New Neighbor

Mister Walrus lived alongside a stream in a resort made of cellophane. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover blueberry pie, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Prairie dog standing there, her hands on her face. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Prairie dog," Mister Walrus uttered, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," yowled Mrs. Prairie dog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" added Mister Walrus sadly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a Tom Collins?"

"I can't stay," implored Mrs. Prairie dog. I just want to ask you what you think of the toad that's come to the stream.

"I really don't know," wondered Mister Walrus. "I didn't know about any toad. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," avowed Mrs. Prairie dog innocently. "I heard that this toad likes to scratch soccer balls."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Prairie dog, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the stream when we get a lot of toads scratching soccer balls?"

"I can't imagine," demanded Mister Walrus.

"What are we going to do about it?" piped up Mrs. Prairie dog.

"Appoint a committee?" yammered Mister Walrus, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Prairie dog had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mrs. Prairie dog ignobly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," amended Mister Walrus violently, 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. Prairie dog slowly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," argued Mister Walrus cleverly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the dresser on his front porch, looking out over the stream and curtseying. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Prairie dog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," complained Mrs. Prairie dog sourly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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