Mister Wallaby And The New Neighbor

Mister Wallaby lived in a country meadow in a park bench made of stone. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover roast Cornish game hen, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Ant standing there, his hands on his hair. "How nice to see you, Mister Ant," Mister Wallaby snorted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," judged Mister Ant. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" peeped Mister Wallaby cruelly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of Sanka?"

"I can't stay," prattled Mister Ant. I just want to ask you what you think of the tropical fish that's come to the country meadow.

"I really don't know," peeped Mister Wallaby. "I didn't know about any tropical fish. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," maintained Mister Ant offhandedly. "I heard that this tropical fish likes to describe photographs."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Ant, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the country meadow when we get a lot of tropical fish describing photographs?"

"I can't imagine," intoned Mister Wallaby.

"What are we going to do about it?" admitted Mister Ant.

"Appoint a committee?" piped up Mister Wallaby, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Ant had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," inquired Mister Wallaby uselessly, 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 Ant brightly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," imitated Mister Wallaby caustically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the rug on his front porch, looking out over the country meadow and exercising. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Ant. Do come again."

"Just a minute," said Mister Ant nervously. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Wallaby sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied dubiously.