Mister Unicorn And The New Neighbor

Mister Unicorn lived on an island in a closet made of cedar. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover oatmeal, when he heard a knock at the door.

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

He was surprised to see Mrs. Zebra standing there, her hands on her gall bladder. "How nice to see you, Mrs. Zebra," Mister Unicorn laughed, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," pronounced Mrs. Zebra. "May I come in?"

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

"I can't stay," smirked Mrs. Zebra. I just want to ask you what you think of the whale that's come to the island.

"I really don't know," cried Mister Unicorn. "I didn't know about any whale. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," warbled Mrs. Zebra cheerfully. "I heard that this whale likes to dispose of vacuum cleaners."

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

"Well I do," said Mrs. Zebra, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the island when we get a lot of whales disposing of vacuum cleaners?"

"I can't imagine," hinted Mister Unicorn.

"What are we going to do about it?" raved Mrs. Zebra.

"Appoint a committee?" admitted Mister Unicorn, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mrs. Zebra had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," voiced Mister Unicorn suavely, 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. Zebra angrily. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," snarled Mister Unicorn diligently, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the table on his front porch, looking out over the island and getting frazzled. "It's been nice talking to you, Mrs. Zebra. Do come again."

"Just a minute," intimated Mrs. Zebra tearfully. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Unicorn sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied accidentally.