Mister Partridge And The New Neighbor

Mister Partridge lived on a steppe in a hovel made of lath and plaster. One morning, he had just finished breakfast and was putting away the leftover bonbons, 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 Hippopotamus standing there, his hands on his tooth. "How nice to see you, Mister Hippopotamus," Mister Partridge requested, not at all sure it was indeed nice. "The pleasure's all yours, I'm sure," instructed Mister Hippopotamus. "May I come in?"

"Oh, I'm forgetting my manners!" responded Mister Partridge urgently, opening the door wide. "Please come in. Can I get you a beer?"

"I can't stay," disputed Mister Hippopotamus. I just want to ask you what you think of the rat that's come to the steppe.

"I really don't know," groveled Mister Partridge. "I didn't know about any rat. I'm sure he is very nice."

"Well don't be so sure," pointed out Mister Hippopotamus noisily. "I heard that this rat likes to catch toolboxes."

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

"Well I do," said Mister Hippopotamus, who always seemed to know what to say. "What do you think is going to happen to the steppe when we get a lot of rats catching toolboxes?"

"I can't imagine," jeered Mister Partridge.

"What are we going to do about it?" nattered Mister Hippopotamus.

"Appoint a committee?" brought up Mister Partridge, who was pretty sure a committee was what Mister Hippopotamus had in mind.

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

"Well that's a fine idea," vouched Mister Partridge cautiously, 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 Hippopotamus lightly. "You always have such good ideas."

"Oh, I don't think I'd have time for that," amended Mister Partridge menacingly, thinking of all the time he'd prefer to be sitting on the armoire on his front porch, looking out over the steppe and getting rigid. "It's been nice talking to you, Mister Hippopotamus. Do come again."

"Just a minute," chattered Mister Hippopotamus briskly. "You didn't answer about the committee."

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

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

Mister Partridge sighed. "Tomorrow at two it is," he replied dolefully.