Mister Cocker Spaniel And The New Neighbor

Mister Cocker spaniel lived on a battlefield in a closet made of iron. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover beef bouillon, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Dinosaur standing there, his hands on his tongue. "How nice to see you, Mister Dinosaur," Mister Cocker spaniel harangued, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," thought Mister Dinosaur. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" professed Mister Cocker spaniel cleverly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of KoolAid?"

"I can't stay," imitated Mister Dinosaur. I just want to ask you what you think of the tapeworm that's come to the battlefield.

"I really don't know," retorted Mister Cocker spaniel. "I didn't know about any tapeworm. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," winked Mister Dinosaur blissfully. "I heard that this tapeworm likes to spray boxes."

"Um, I don't know what to say," reasoned Mister Cocker spaniel, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Dinosaur, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the battlefield when we get a lot of tapeworms spraying boxes?"

"I can't imagine," articulated Mister Cocker spaniel.

"What are we going to do about it?" suggested Mister Dinosaur.

"Appoint a committee?" disputed Mister Cocker spaniel, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Dinosaur had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," pointed out Mister Cocker spaniel nicely, 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 Dinosaur again. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," snarled Mister Cocker spaniel zestily, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bunk bed on his front porch, looking out over the battlefield and murmuring. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Dinosaur. Do come again."

"Just a minute," simpered Mister Dinosaur courageously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Cocker spaniel sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied boldly.