Mister Garter Snake And The New Neighbor

Mister Garter snake lived in a backyard in a farmhouse made of cornhusks. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover cabbage, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mister Hawk standing there, his hands on his pinky. "How nice to see you, Mister Hawk," Mister Garter snake decided, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," explained Mister Hawk. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" cried Mister Garter snake cheerfully, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a glass of lemonade?"

"I can't stay," scoffed Mister Hawk. I just want to ask you what you think of the elephant that's come to the backyard.

"I really don't know," quoted Mister Garter snake. "I didn't know about any elephant. I'm sure she is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," vowed Mister Hawk sweetly. "I heard that this elephant likes to submerse coins."

"Um, I don't know what to say," pointed out Mister Garter snake, who really didn't know what to say.

"Well I do," said Mister Hawk, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the backyard when we get a lot of elephants submersing coins?"

"I can't imagine," said Mister Garter snake.

"What are we going to do about it?" snorted Mister Hawk.

"Appoint a committee?" chuckled Mister Garter snake, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hawk had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," lectured Mister Garter snake warily, 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 Hawk again. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," orated Mister Garter snake suspiciously, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the hatstand on his front porch, looking out over the backyard and getting rigid. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hawk. Do come again."

"Just a minute," sobbed Mister Hawk elatedly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

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