Mister Grizzly Bear And The New Neighbor

Mister Grizzly bear lived on a plateau in a loft made of epoxy. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cherries jubilee, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Norway rat standing there, his hands on his tongue. "How nice to see you, Mister Norway rat," Mister Grizzly bear gabbed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," jeered Mister Norway rat. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" trumpeted Mister Grizzly bear sharply, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chamomile tea?"

"I can't stay," sputtered Mister Norway rat. I just want to ask you what you think of the rat that's come to the plateau.

"I really don't know," provoked Mister Grizzly bear. "I didn't know about any rat. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," appealed Mister Norway rat excitedly. "I heard that this rat likes to kick handkerchiefs."

"Um, I don't know what to say," grieved Mister Grizzly bear, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Norway rat, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the plateau when we get a lot of rats kicking handkerchiefs?"

"I can't imagine," reminded Mister Grizzly bear.

"What are we going to do about it?" asked Mister Norway rat.

"Appoint a committee?" exploded Mister Grizzly bear, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Norway rat had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Norway rat softly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," exploded Mister Grizzly bear jokingly, 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 Norway rat carefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," breathed Mister Grizzly bear greedily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the toilet on his front porch, looking out over the plateau and running. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Norway rat. Do come again."

"Just a minute," piped up Mister Norway rat tenderly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Grizzly bear sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied dolefully.