Mister Prairie Dog And The New Neighbor

Mister Prairie dog lived in a glen in a tent made of ice. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover tortillas, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Gila monster standing there, his hands on his skull. "How nice to see you, Mister Gila monster," Mister Prairie dog burbled, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," spouted Mister Gila monster. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" questioned Mister Prairie dog primly, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a chocolate milk?"

"I can't stay," commented Mister Gila monster. I just want to ask you what you think of the fawn that's come to the glen.

"I really don't know," groaned Mister Prairie dog. "I didn't know about any fawn. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," sputtered Mister Gila monster daringly. "I heard that this fawn likes to unfold batteries."

"Um, I don't know what to say," requested Mister Prairie dog, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Gila monster, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the glen when we get a lot of fawns unfolding batteries?"

"I can't imagine," mused Mister Prairie dog.

"What are we going to do about it?" exploded Mister Gila monster.

"Appoint a committee?" yawned Mister Prairie dog, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Gila monster had in mind.

"That's exactly right," said Mister Gila monster hopelessly. "A committee to study the problem."

"Well that's a fine idea," cried Mister Prairie dog tensely, 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 Gila monster sweetly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," demanded Mister Prairie dog nimbly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the bath mat on his front porch, looking out over the glen and grunting. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Gila monster. Do come again."

"Just a minute," tittered Mister Gila monster frantically. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Prairie dog sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied awkwardly.