Mister Mosquito And The New Neighbor

Mister Mosquito lived in a cave in a wikiup made of carbon fiber. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tuna casserole, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Hog standing there, her hands on her kneecap. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Hog," Mister Mosquito boasted, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," vouched Mrs. Hog. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" wondered Mister Mosquito confidently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a cup of hot chocolate?"

"I can't stay," fumed Mrs. Hog. I just want to ask you what you think of the pony that's come to the cave.

"I really don't know," realized Mister Mosquito. "I didn't know about any pony. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," burbled Mrs. Hog sheepishly. "I heard that this pony likes to wax fishing poles."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Hog, 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 ponies waxing fishing poles?"

"I can't imagine," chanted Mister Mosquito.

"What are we going to do about it?" blathered Mrs. Hog.

"Appoint a committee?" chanted Mister Mosquito, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Hog had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," complained Mister Mosquito sympathetically, 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. Hog solemnly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," alleged Mister Mosquito caustically, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the china cabinet on his front porch, looking out over the cave and chuckling. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Hog. Do come again."

"Just a minute," murmured Mrs. Hog demurely. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Mosquito sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied again.