Mister Grasshopper And The New Neighbor

Mister Grasshopper lived in a cave in a tent made of hay. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Llama standing there, her hands on her eyeball. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Llama," Mister Grasshopper bawled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," cackled Mrs. Llama. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" brought up Mister Grasshopper mysteriously, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of papaya juice?"

"I can't stay," ranted Mrs. Llama. I just want to ask you what you think of the basset hound that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," instructed Mister Grasshopper. "I didn't know about any basset hound. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," analyzed Mrs. Llama nervously. "I heard that this basset hound likes to recognize candy canes."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Llama, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the cave when we get a lot of basset hounds recognizing candy canes?"

"I can't imagine," hinted Mister Grasshopper.

"What are we going to do about it?" alleged Mrs. Llama.

"Appoint a committee?" conversed Mister Grasshopper, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Llama had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," belched Mister Grasshopper shakily, 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. Llama gratefully. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," amended Mister Grasshopper humbly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the stool on his front porch, looking out over the cave and whistling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Llama. Do come again."

"Just a minute," pleaded Mrs. Llama lickety-split. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Grasshopper sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied openly.